Eugene Cernan

Easton Press Eugene Cernan books

The Last Man on the Moon - Signed Limited Edition - 1999

 

Astronaut Eugene Cernan

Eugene Andrew Cernan, born on March 14, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois, was an American astronaut and naval aviator who became the last person to walk on the Moon. Cernan played a significant role in NASA's Apollo program and made history during the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972. Cernan's journey into space began with his selection as an astronaut by NASA in 1963. Prior to joining NASA, he had a distinguished career as a naval aviator, flying missions in both the Korean War and the United States' Cold War efforts. Cernan was known for his exceptional piloting skills and his commitment to space exploration.

Eugene Cernan first flew into space as the pilot of Gemini 9A in June 1966, where he conducted spacewalks to test new spacesuit and propulsion technology. He later served as the lunar module pilot on Apollo 10 in May 1969, the mission that served as a rehearsal for the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing. Cernan's most notable achievement came with the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972. He was the commander of the mission, and during the lunar module's descent to the Moon's surface, he spoke the famous words, "We leave as we came, and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind." As the mission's commander, Cernan spent over three days on the lunar surface, conducting experiments and explorations alongside astronaut Harrison Schmitt. On December 14, 1972, Cernan climbed back into the lunar module, marking the conclusion of the Apollo program and his historic status as the last person to leave the Moon's surface.

After his career with NASA, Eugene Cernan became an advocate for space exploration and continued to share his experiences with the public through speaking engagements and documentaries. He authored a memoir, "The Last Man on the Moon," in which he reflected on his life, career, and the profound experience of being the last human to stand on the lunar surface. Eugene Cernan passed away on January 16, 2017, at the age of 82. His legacy extends beyond his historic role as the last Apollo astronaut on the Moon; he remains an inspirational figure in the history of space exploration, symbolizing the achievements and challenges of humanity's journey beyond Earth.

 

The Last Man on the Moon

Eugene Cernan was a unique American who came of age as an astronaut during the most exciting and dangerous decade of spaceflight. His career spanned the entire Gemini and Apollo programs, from being the first person to spacewalk all the way around our world to the moment when he left man's last footprint on the Moon as commander of Apollo 17.

Between those two historic events lay more adventures than an ordinary person could imagine as Cernan repeatedly put his life, his family and everything he held dear on the altar of an obsessive desire. Written with New York Times bestselling author Don Davis, The Last Man on the Moon is the astronaut story never before told about the fear, love and sacrifice demanded of the few men who dared to reach beyond the heavens for the biggest prize of all, the Moon.