Charles Bassett

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Charles Bassett
Charles Bassett
Country: United States
Organization: NASA
selected on October 17, 1963
( 3rd NASA Group )
retired on February 28, 1966
(fatal accident)

Charles Arthur "Charlie" Bassett II (born December 30, 1931 in Dayton , Ohio , † February 28, 1966 in St. Louis , Missouri ) was an American astronaut who died in a plane crash before his first space flight with Gemini 9 Life came.

Bassett attended Ohio State University from 1950 to 1952 and the Texas Technological College, now Texas Tech University, from 1958 to 1960 . There he received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1960 . He completed postgraduate studies at the University of Southern California .

Bassett was a pilot in the United States Air Force . As a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base in California , he gained a great deal of flying experience.

Astronaut activity

Bassett was selected with NASA's third astronaut group in October 1963. In addition to his astronaut training, he was also responsible for training on the simulators.

On November 8, 1965, he was designated as the pilot of the planned Gemini-9 mission.

During the flights of Gemini 6 and Gemini 7 in December 1965, he served as a liaison officer ( Capcom ) from the flight control center in Houston .

Deadly accident

On February 28, 1966, the main and backup crew of Gemini 9 flew in two two-seat T-38 Talon jets to St. Louis to McDonnell , the manufacturer of the Gemini spaceship. Elliot See was piloting one plane and Bassett was co-pilot with him. In thick fog, See flew too close to the ground, hit a building at St. Louis Airport on approach and crashed. Bassett and See were dead instantly.

Charles Bassett left behind his wife and two children. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His name is also listed on the metal plate of the Fallen Astronaut , the only work of art on the moon.

See also

Web links

Commons : Charles Bassett  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files
personal data
SURNAME Bassett, Charles
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Bassett, Charles Arthur
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American astronaut
DATE OF BIRTH December 30, 1931
PLACE OF BIRTH Dayton , Ohio
DATE OF DEATH February 28, 1966
Place of death St. Louis , Missouri