Charles "Pete" Conrad Jr. (June 2, 1930 - July 8, 1999), (Captain, USN), was an American NASA astronaut, aeronautical engineer, naval officer and aviator, test pilot, and during the Apollo 12 mission became the third man to walk on the Moon. Conrad was selected in NASA's second astronaut class. He set an eight-day space endurance record along with his Command Pilot Gordon Cooper on his first spaceflight, the Gemini 5 mission. Conrad also commanded the Gemini 11 mission.

Conrad retired from NASA and the Navy in 1973, and went to work for American Television and Communications Company. He started as the Vice President of Operations and Chief Operating Officer. Conrad was in charge of the operation of existing systems and the national development of new cable television systems.  In 1976, he accepted a position with McDonnell Douglas as a Vice President and consultant. In 1978, he became Vice President of marketing and was responsible for the commercial and military sales of Douglas Aircraft Company. After an engine fell off a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, causing it to crash with the loss of all passengers and crew in 1979, Conrad spearheaded McDonnell Douglas's ultimately unsuccessful efforts to allay the fears of the public and policymakers, and save the plane's reputation. In 1980, he was promoted to Senior Vice President of marketing. From 1982 to 1984, Conrad served as the Senior Vice President of marketing and product support. He was appointed Staff Vice President of International Business Development in 1984. During the 1990s he consulted for the Delta Clipper experimental single-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle. He became Vice President of project development in 1993.  On February 14, 1996, Conrad was part of the crew on a record-breaking around-the-world flight in a Learjet owned by cable TV pioneer, Bill Daniels. The flight lasted 49 hours, 26 minutes and 8 seconds. Today the jet is on permanent static display at Denver International Airport's Terminal C.  A month before he died, Conrad appeared on ABC News Nightline and said, "I think the Space Shuttle is worth one billion dollars a launch. I think that it is worth two billion dollars for what it does. I think the Shuttle is worth it for the work it does." In the last interview he gave before his death, Conrad sat down for PBS's Nova series and discussed where he felt the future direction of space travel should go. He considered returning to the Moon "a waste of taxpayer money", but recommended missions to Mars and asteroids.  In 2006, NASA posthumously awarded him the Ambassador of Exploration Award for his work for the agency and science.

What else did he do in the 1990s?
On February 14, 1996, Conrad was part of the crew on a record-breaking around-the-world flight in a Learjet