Eugene Cernan

Eugene Andrew Cernan was a distinguished American astronaut, naval aviator, and accomplished engineer, recognized for his significant contributions to space exploration. Born on March 14, 1934, Cernan made history during the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972, becoming the eleventh human to set foot on the Moon. Following his last excursion with astronaut Harrison Schmitt, he became the last person to leave the lunar surface, famously stating, “We leave as we came, and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind.”

Cernan's impressive career included three spaceflights. He served as the pilot for Gemini 9A in June 1966, where he honed his skills in orbital maneuvers. He then participated in Apollo 10 as the lunar module pilot in May 1969, which served as a dress rehearsal for the Moon landing. His crowning achievement came with Apollo 17, where he commanded the mission and conducted extensive geological surveys on the Moon's surface.

In addition to his flight missions, Cernan was a backup crew member for several other significant missions, including Gemini 12, Apollo 7, and Apollo 14. Throughout his career, he earned numerous accolades, including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and induction into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Cernan’s legacy endures as a pioneer in space exploration and a testament to human ingenuity. He passed away on January 16, 2017.