Francis G. Neubeck

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]

Francis G. Neubeck
Born (1932-04-11) April 11, 1932
Washington, D.C., U.S.
StatusRetired
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUSNA, B.S. 1955
AU, MBA 1972
OccupationTest pilot
Space career
USAF Astronaut
Rank Colonel, USAF
Selection1965 USAF MOL Group 1
MissionsNone

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.

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]

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. "Astrospies Neubeck biography". NOVA. PBS. December 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  3. "SECRET ASTRONAUTS – Col. Francis G. Neubeck, USAF". Pbs.org.
  4. 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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