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Ronald E. Evans (November 10, 1933 - April 7,
1990) (Captain, USN Ret.) was a
NASA astronaut.

Evans was born in St. Francis, Kansas. He
graduated from Highland Park High School in
Topeka, Kansas, received a Bachelor of Science
degree in Electrical Engineering from the
University of Kansas in 1956 and a Master of
Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from
the U. S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1964.

He was a member of Tau Beta Pi, Society of Sigma
Xi, and Sigma Nu.

Evans was a combat flight instructor (F8 aircraft)
with VF-124 from January 1961 to June 1962 and,
prior to this assignment, participated in two
WESTPAC aircraft carrier cruises while a pilot
with VF-142. In June 1957, he completed flight
training after receiving his commission as an
Ensign through the Navy ROTC Program at the
University of Kansas. When notified of his
selection to the astronaut program, Evans was on
sea duty in the Pacific-assigned to VF51 and
flying F8 aircraft from the carrier USS
TICONDEROGA during a period of seven months in
Vietnam combat operation. The total flight time
accrued during his career was 5,100 hours,
including 4,600 hours in jet aircraft.

Evans was one of the List of astronauts by
selection | 19 astronauts selected by NASA in
April 1966. He served as a member of the astronaut
support crews for the Apollo 7 and Apollo 11
flights, and as backup command module pilot for
Apollo 14.

Evans' first and only space flight was as command
module pilot of Apollo 17, the last scheduled
manned mission to the moon for the United States.
He was accompanied by Eugene Cernan and Harrison
Schmitt. While Cernan and Schmitt landed and
worked on the Moon in the Taurus-Littrow Valley,
Evans remained in lunar orbit onboard the command
module "America", completing assigned work tasks
which required visual geological observations,
hand-held photography of specific targets, and the
control of cameras and other highly sophisticated
scientific equipment carried in the command module
SIM-bay. 

On the way back to Earth, Evans completed a
1-hour, 6-minute extravehicular activity,
successfully retrieving three camera cassettes and
completing a personal inspection of the equipment
bay area. He logged 301 hours, 51 minutes in
space; 1 hour, 6 minutes of which were spent in
extravehicular activity. As of 2005, he holds the
record of more time in lunar orbit than anyone
else in the world.

Evans was later backup command module pilot for
the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) mission. 

Evans retired from the United States Navy on April
30, 1976, with 21 years of service, and remained
active as a NASA astronaut involved in the
development of NASA's Space Shuttle Program. He
served as a member of the operations and training
group, within the astronaut office, responsible
for launch and ascent phases of the Shuttle flight
program. He retired from NASA in March 1977 to
become a coal industry executive.

He was presented with the NASA Distinguished
Service Medal in 1973; the Johnson Space Center
Superior Achievement Award in 1970; the Navy
Distinguished Service Medal in 1973; Navy
Astronaut wings; eight Air Medals, the Viet Nam
Service Medal; and the Navy Commendation Medal
with combat distinguishing service in 1966; the
University of Kansas Distinguished Service
Citation in 1973; Kansan of the Year in 1972.

Evans died in Scottsdale, Arizona, of a heart
attack, and is survived by his wife Jan and two
children. 

Source:http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/evans
-re.html

Source: Date of death according to Death
Certificate issued by the State of Arizona on
April 27, 1990, Certificate Number 169985, signed
by G. E. Bolduc, MD.