Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Armstrong. Armstrong visited again only months before the 1969 launch of Apollo 11, spending a total of 20 days at Morehead over 11 training sessions, more than any other astronaut. Astronauts commented that the "large dome" was "highly realistic", calling the facility "superb". In all, the astronauts who trained at the planetarium were Buzz Aldrin, Joseph P. Allen, William Anders, Neil Armstrong, Charles Bassett, Alan Bean, Frank Borman, Vance D. Brand, John S. Bull, Scott Carpenter, Gerald P. Carr, Eugene Cernan, Roger B. Chaffee, Philip K. Chapman, Michael Collins, Pete Conrad, Gordon Cooper, Walter Cunningham, Charles Duke, Donn F. Eisele,
NASA Astronaut Group 2 group (Lovell and Conrad) had been candidates for the original 7, but were not selected then for medical reasons. In addition, Group 2 became the first group with civilian test pilots in the group; See flew for General Electric, while Armstrong flew the X-15 research plane for NASA. Seven of the nine would receive the Congressional Space Medal of Honor for their service, valor, and sacrifice. Neil Armstrong, for being the first man on the moon (Apollo 11). Frank Borman, for commanding the first manned mission to the moon (Apollo 8). Pete Conrad, for commanding Skylab 2 and saving the