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Ron Evans

(1933 - 1990)

Born in St. Francis, Kansas, and a graduate of Highland Park High School in Topeka, Ron Evans was among the crew of Apollo 17, the last moon landing flight in the Apollo program. He piloted the command module that orbited the moon while the other crewmembers landed on its surface. Engle also was to have been named to that crew but he was "bumped" by scientist Dr. Harrison Schmitt. Engle, however, was soon assigned to work on the development of the space shuttle. He piloted the shuttle in two approach and landing tests in 1977 and was part of the back-up crew for the shuttle's initial voyage. He and Captain Richard Truly manned the crew for the shuttle's second flight.