Francis G. Neubeck

Last updated
Francis G. Neubeck
Francis G. Neubeck 1960s.jpg
Born (1932-04-11) April 11, 1932 (age 91)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
StatusRetired
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater USNA, B.S. 1955
AU, MBA 1972
Occupation Test pilot
Space career
USAF astronaut
Rank US-O6 insignia.svg Colonel, USAF
Selection 1965 USAF MOL Group 1
MissionsNone

Francis Gregory "Greg" Neubeck (born April 11, 1932) is a retired Colonel in the United States Air Force and a former USAF astronaut. Although he trained for the USAF Manned Orbital Laboratory (MOL), the program was cancelled before any of the MOL crews reached space. [1]

Neubeck was born April 11, 1932, in Washington, D.C., and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1955 from the United States Naval Academy. Although a USNA graduate, he chose to begin his career in the United States Air Force. In 1972, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Auburn University in Alabama. [2]

Greg always got a lot done on his own. He was the quietest of all of us and maybe the most independent, and that worked for him because he really knew his stuff.

— Lachlan Macleay, describing his MOL colleague. [3]

At the start of his USAF career, Neubeck worked on the development of weapons systems and as a flight instructor. [4] He was one of the 32 finalists for NASA Astronaut Group 2 in 1962, but ultimately was not selected. [5] He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School in Class 60C, Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS) Class III, and MOL. [6] In 1965, he was selected as one of the first astronauts to the Air Force's classified Manned Orbital Laboratory. [7] The goal of the MOL program, canceled in 1969 before sending any astronauts into space, was to man a space station with military astronauts using a modified Gemini spacecraft. [8] The history of the MOL program was presented in the public television series NOVA episode called "Astrospies" which aired February 12, 2008. [9]

ARPS Class III graduates Front row: Edward Givens, Tommie Benefield, Charlie Bassett, Neubeck and Mike Collins. Back row: Al Atwell, Neil Garland, Jim Roman, Al Uhalt and Joe Engle. ARPS Class III.jpg
ARPS Class III graduates Front row: Edward Givens, Tommie Benefield, Charlie Bassett, Neubeck and Mike Collins. Back row: Al Atwell, Neil Garland, Jim Roman, Al Uhalt and Joe Engle.

After the MOL program cancellation, Neubeck continued his USAF career including a combat tour in south-east Asia. [4] He also served as vice commander at the Tactical Air Warfare Center at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida before retiring from the Air Force in 1986. [2] Neubeck worked in the aerospace industry, became an author, and ran for public office. [4] In 1986, he became the Republican nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's first congressional district but was not elected. As of 2007, Neubeck resides in Florida. [2]

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References

  1. ↑ "Space and Missile Systems Center History" (PDF). USAF. 2006-09-12. pp. 60–62. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  2. 1 2 3 "Astrospies Neubeck biography". NOVA. PBS. December 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  3. ↑ "SECRET ASTRONAUTS – Col. Francis G. Neubeck, USAF". Pbs.org.
  4. 1 2 3 Shayler, David J. (2001). Gemini: Steps to the Moon. Springer Press. p. 418. ISBN   9781852334055 . Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  5. ↑ Burgess, Colin (2013). Moon Bound: Choosing and Preparing NASA's Lunar Astronauts. New York: Springer Science+Business Media. pp. 117–120. ISBN   978-1-4614-3854-0.
  6. ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. Privately Published. 1994. p. 247.
  7. ↑ "Secret Astronauts". NOVA. PBS. December 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  8. ↑ Nutter, Ashley (2008-06-02). "Suits for Space Spies". NASA . Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  9. ↑ "Astrospies". NOVA. PBS. December 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
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