These Are the 12 People Who Walked on the Moon

Armed with a doctorate in geology from Harvard University, Harrison H. Schmitt worked at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Astrogeology Center before he joined NASA and helped the U.S. space program map the lunar surface. Prior to his own flight to the moon, Schmitt advised NASA astronauts during their geological explorations on the moon. Apollo 17 was Schmitt’s only trip into space, and the mission set several records, including the longest duration for lunar surface extravehicular activities (22 hours, 4 minutes).

After his days as an astronaut, Schmitt entered politics, was elected senator from New Mexico in 1976, and served one term. Schmitt has written extensively about policy issues facing the United States, the history of space flight, and climate change. He is the author of the book “Return to the Moon.”

Eugene Cernan was the last person to walk on the moon. The final words he spoke on the moon were, “We leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind.” Cernan, a staunch advocate of space exploration, was disappointed that he was the last man on the moon.

Prior to his moon walk, Cernan had been the second American to have walked in space during the Gemini IX mission in 1966. He was the lunar module pilot for Apollo 10 that flew into space just two months before Apollo 11. Cernan is one of just two men to have flown to the moon on two separate trips.