Pioneers of the Sky

Eugene Cernan

Eugene Cernan was an American astronaut, naval aviator, and engineer best known as the first American to walk in space and the 12th and the last human to walk on the Moon. He flew in space three times: on Gemini 9A, Apollo 10, and Apollo 17, where he served as mission commander. During Apollo 17 in 1972, Cernan spent over 22 hours exploring the lunar surface. His final words on the Moon reflected hope for future space exploration. Cernan’s legacy continues to inspire generations of scientists and explorers.