Cernan - Blog Posts

Cernan was the commander of Apollo 17 in December 1972 – the last lunar mission and one of the final Apollo flights. When Cernan stepped out from lunar module “Challenger” he became the 11th person to walk on the moon. His lunar module pilot, Jack Schmitt, was the 12th. But as commander, Cernan was the last to re-enter the lunar module it give him the designation of being the last person to walk on the lunar surface.

His words would not become as famous as Neil Armstrong’s first sentence spoken from the moon, however, Cernan’s final goodbye to the moon was just as poetic. “America’s challenge of today has forged man’s destiny of tomorrow, and as we leave the Moon, we leave as we came and, God willing we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind. Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17"

R.I.P Commander Cernan 1934 -2017                       More here and here

The world has lost a hero, Eugene Cernan, the last man on the Moon. Commanded Apollo 17, drove the Moon buggy & collected critical lunar samples. Prior to Apollo 17 he was a Captain in the U.S. Navy, Piloted Gemini 9 and piloted the lunar module on the Apollo 10 mission. Post NASA Cernan conducted outreach to students to inspire a new generation of space explorers. This is how I want to remember hero and last man on the Moon Eugene Cernan:

Gene singing on the Moon

Apollo 17 Crew

Apollo 17 Lunar Site