Noel William Hinners, born on December 25, 1935, was a distinguished figure in the field of space exploration and geology. His career spanned several decades, during which he made significant contributions to NASA's space programs and later at Lockheed Martin. Hinners grew up in Chatham, New Jersey, as one of eight siblings. His father worked as an insurance agent, while his mother was a homemaker. His academic journey began at Rutgers University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Agricultural Science in 1958.