Edgar Mitchell (1930-2016) was an American astronaut, naval aviator, and the sixth person to walk on the Moon. He was the Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 14, which launched in 1971. Beyond his career in space exploration, Mitchell was also known for his deep interest in consciousness and parapsychology, topics he explored after retiring from NASA.
Born on September 17, 1930, in Hereford, Texas, Mitchell grew up in New Mexico near Roswell and developed an early interest in flying and space. He joined the U.S. Navy, where he trained as a pilot and later as a test pilot, before being selected by NASA in 1966 as part of Astronaut Group 5.
Mitchell’s mission to the Moon on Apollo 14 was the third successful lunar landing mission. During this mission, he spent over 33 hours on the lunar surface, conducting experiments and collecting lunar samples.
After retiring from NASA and the Navy in 1972, Mitchell’s interests turned towards the study of consciousness and paranormal phenomena. He founded the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) in 1973 to sponsor research into the nature of consciousness as it relates to the physical world. Through IONS and his own work, Mitchell became an advocate for the exploration of the intersection between science and spirituality.
Mitchell publicly expressed his belief in the existence of extraterrestrial life and the possibility that UFOs had visited Earth, views that were met with skepticism in the scientific community but which found resonance in popular culture and among UFO enthusiasts.