Russell Schweickart is an American astronaut and engineer, best known for his role in the Apollo 9 mission in 1969. He was born on October 25, 1935, in Neptune, New Jersey. Schweickart served as the lunar module pilot during the mission, which tested the lunar module in Earth orbit. After his NASA career, Schweickart became an advocate for planetary defense, focusing on the potential threat of asteroids to Earth. He co-founded the B612 Foundation, which aims to protect the planet from asteroid impacts through research and awareness. His contributions to space exploration and safety continue to be recognized today.