The fourth astronaut walking on the Moon died

Alan Bean, a former NASA astronaut, is respected by many, leaving at the age of 86 due to severe illness.

Former astronaut Alan Bean died at a hospital in Houston, Texas, USA, on May 26, according to the BBC. The family said he was sick about two weeks ago and went quietly. Astronaut Mike Massimino described Bean as the most extraordinary person he met.

Alan Bean in astronaut costume in 1998. (Photo: Reuters).

served as a pilot of the US Navy, recruited by NASA in 1963. He flew into space twice, first in November 1969 on the Apollo 12 with the mission to land on the Moon.

In 1973, he became the second manned commander on Skylab, the first US space station. In this mission, he was on Earth's trajectory for 59 days, moving 39.3 million kilometers, a world record at the time.

Alan Bean and his work in 2009. (Photo by Jacquelyn Martin / AP).

Alan Bean retired and left NASA in 1981. He became a talented painter. His cosmic-inspired paintings are praised by many . "He is a unique combination of technological achievements as an astronaut and artistic achievement as an artist," Massimino said.

Three astronauts set foot on the Moon before Alan Bean was, of and Charles Conrad of Apollo 12. Aldrin was 88 years old, the only one alive among them. A total of 24 people flew to the Moon and 12 people set foot on the surface.