Apollo 9 backup crew on “Retriever”-Ships

S68-51700 (November 1968) --- The backup crew of the Apollo 9 (Spacecraft 104/ Lunar Module 3/ Saturn 504) space mission stands on the deck of the NASA Motor Vessel Retriever (MVR) prior to participating in water egress training in the Gulf of Mexico. Left to right, are astronauts Charles Conrad Jr. (holding hatch), Richard F. Gordon Jr., and Alan L. Bean. They are standing by the Apollo command module trainer which was used in the exercise. Since this photograph was made, these three astronauts have been named as the prime crew of the Apollo 12 lunar landing mission.