Ahead of Artemis II launch, know all about the last man to walk on the Moon

Eugene Andrew Cernan, the commander of Apollo 17, 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, according to NASA.

Cernan began his journey into space with the Gemini IX mission on June 3, 1966, serving as pilot alongside Thomas Stafford. During the three-day flight, Cernan became the second American to walk in space, spending over two hours in extravehicular activity. The mission tested complex rendezvous techniques in orbit and concluded with a near-perfect splashdown, underscoring NASA’s growing confidence in human spaceflight operations.

His second journey came with Apollo 10 on May 18, 1969, a crucial rehearsal ahead of the first Moon landing. As lunar module pilot, Cernan joined Stafford and John Young in a mission that pushed the boundaries of precision navigation. The crew descended and this near-touchdown mission proved that astronauts could safely operate in the Moon’s gravitational field and laid the groundwork for the success of subsequent lunar landings.

Cernan’s final voyage came with Apollo 17 on December 7, 1972, where he served as commander on humanity’s last mission to the Moon. The flight began with the first nighttime launch of a crewed lunar mission and culminated in an extended stay at the Taurus-Littrow valley. Alongside Harrison Schmitt, Cernan spent over three days exploring the surface, setting records for the longest lunar stay and the largest collection of Moon rocks returned to Earth. The Apollo program defined America’s first era of lunar exploration.

Apollo 17 is seen as one of the cleanest and most productive in Apollo history. The mission established several new records for human space flight, including the longest lunar landing flight (301 hours, 51 minutes); longest lunar surface extravehicular activities (22 hours, 6 minutes); largest lunar sample return (nearly 249 pounds); and longest time in lunar orbit (147 hours, 48 minutes). “We leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return with peace and hope for all mankind,” were Eugene's closing words while leaving the moon.

The April 1, 2026, launch of Artemis II, which is happening today at 6:24 P.M. EDT, will differ significantly from Apollo 17 in both purpose and execution. Artemis II is a 10‑day crewed lunar flyby using NASA’s larger Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion capsule, which carries four astronauts instead of Apollo’s three. It follows a free‑return trajectory around the Moon, relying on gravity for much of its return, rather than a landing‑and‑ascent profile. The Artemis II mission also includes the first woman and first person of color headed toward the Moon, emphasizing diversity and long‑term lunar exploration, whereas Apollo 17 was the final Apollo landing focused on surface science and symbolic presence. NASA looks to that moment when planning new steps toward returning to the moon.

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