Alan Bean
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Right Stuff Field Geologistsby Alan BeanThe Apollo program faced an early dilemma in its quest for scientific gain: "Do we take test pilots and make them into geologists or do we take geologists and teach them how to fly?" ...The answer, in typical NASA fashion was to create a team of both. This image of Apollo 17 commander and skilled Naval aviator Gene Cernan, handing yet another sample bag to lunar module pilot and Doctor of Geology Harrison "Jack" Schmitt on the Taurus-Littrow valley floor represents the epitome of this exploration philosophy." -- ALAN BEAN For the first time, an astronaut is teamed with a trained geologist to explore the moon on the final, triumphant flight of the Apollo program. Schmitt had undergone extensive pilot training and was qualified to fly the LM in an emergency. Cernan, for his part, immersed himself in field geology, actually tutored by Schmitt and Dr. Lee Silver. Together, Cernan and Schmitt became the most formidable scientific team ever to traverse lunar soil. Schmitt, in fact, so concentrated on his exploration that when his frustrated commander tried to get him to look up at the Earth in the black velvet sky, Schmitt remarked "You've seen one Earth, you've seen 'em all," keeping his eyes looking for interesting rocks on the ground. This print marks a first for us, for the Greenwich Workshop, and for Alan Bean fans. Until now, Gene Cernan had never co-signed any of Alan's prints. He signed a few of the artist copies given to the other astronauts, but nothing commercially available to the public. Our close friendship with Gene Cernan (we are in business together on several exclusive items) emboldened us to plead with him to co-sign this one. He conceded. He in turn convinced his moonwalk partner, Jack Schmitt, to do the same. We saw the original painting of "Right Stuff" hanging in Alan's studio a few years back, and thought it would make a great print, but with the Gene Cernan problem, we should wait. Maybe someday... Well, the time is NOW, and we're really excited. This one is a favorite of ours. Not only realistically renedered, but this one has ACTION; movement; drama; like a freeze-frame from a movie. Combine that with the two signatures that have never before appeared together on an Alan Bean print, and we think it's a slam dunk.
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