General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEugene Cernan, last man to walk on the moon, dead at 82
Remembering Gene Cernan
"We leave as we came, and, God willing, we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind." -- Cernan's closing words on leaving the moon at the end of Apollo 17
Euguene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon, died Monday, Jan. 16, surrounded by his family.
Cernan, a Captain in the U.S. Navy, left his mark on the history of exploration by flying three times in space, twice to the moon. He also holds the distinction of being the second American to walk in space and the last human to leave his footprints on the lunar surface.
He was one of 14 astronauts selected by NASA in October 1963. He piloted the Gemini 9 mission with Commander Thomas P. Stafford on a three-day flight in June 1966. Cernan logged more than two hours outside the orbiting capsule.
In May 1969, he was the lunar module pilot of Apollo 10, the first comprehensive lunar-orbital qualification and verification test of the lunar lander. The mission confirmed the performance, stability, and reliability of the Apollo command, service and lunar modules. The mission included a descent to within eight nautical miles of the moon's surface.
In a 2007 interview for NASA's oral histories, Cernan said, "I keep telling Neil Armstrong that we painted that white line in the sky all the way to the Moon down to 47,000 feet so he wouldn't get lost, and all he had to do was land. Made it sort of easy for him."
Cross like a jet, Gene!
Rhiannon12866
(205,320 posts)Just watched a documentary on him, a genuine American hero...
A HERETIC I AM
(24,368 posts)cureautismnow
(1,676 posts)As a child, I watched you blast off into the midnight sky and turn night into day. Cross gently into the Great Beyond.
There are only 6 living moonwalkers left and the youngest is 81. We need to get back before there is no one left to tell us what it was like.
longship
(40,416 posts)Apollo 8 was the first occupied craft to reach the moon. It was that flight which resulted in the justifiably famous Earthrise photograph while Apollo 8 was in lunar orbit.
Apollo 8 is also noted as the single most dangerous manned space mission in history. If the engine does not fire on the far side of the moon, they'd still be in lunar orbit (or crashed on the surface).
cureautismnow
(1,676 posts)Haise is still with us at 83. Lovell is 88.
The 6 remaining astronauts who actually did walk on the moon are: Aldrin 86, Bean 84, Scott 84, Young 86, Duke 81, and Schmidt 81.
Godspeed to them all!
longship
(40,416 posts)I could have Googled it, but I only have limited download on an iPhone.
cureautismnow
(1,676 posts)Peace.
longship
(40,416 posts)Moon hoax wacko, Bart Sibrel, was stalking Apollo moon walkers, trying to get them to admit that they never walked on the moon.
He picked the wrong guy when he stalked Buzz Aldrin. And yes, there's video:
In honor of Gene Cernan!
cureautismnow
(1,676 posts)He about sent HIM to the moon!
longship
(40,416 posts)The Apollo astronauts are all quite old now.
Nevertheless, it is sad to see them go.
We still have Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell, two totally bad-assed dudes. Those are the only two I can think of off the top of my head.
shenmue
(38,506 posts)Bengus81
(6,931 posts)Not sure if it's still on but wow...he kept doing the tour all over the World after he retired. I think his wife finally had enough and they divorced. Great documentary....
Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)LeftishBrit
(41,205 posts)KosherPinay
(5 posts)I just saw the documentary on him on a flight from Japan. He accomplished a lot.
RIP
Rhiannon12866
(205,320 posts)He was the genuine article, so it was pretty shocking to read that he's gone.
Welcome to DU, KosherPinay! It's great to have you with us!