Pete Conrad
First Man on the Moon?
In 1968, Deke Slayton told novelist Allen Drury (The
Throne of Saturn) that Charles "Pete" Conrad could be the first man ont
he moon. As backup commander for Apollo 8, the first manned lunar
module test, Conrad was expected to command Apollo 11. But delays created a
new mission for Apollo 8, forcing Conrad to swap missions with Neil Armstrong.
As commander of of Apollo 12, these were Conrad's first words as he became the
3rd man to step onto the Lunar Surface:
(coverall, behind)
During the flight of Apollo 12 to and from the moon, mission commander Pete
Conrad wore this constant wear garment.