The Apollo program, a series of NASA missions from 1961 to 1972, aimed to land humans on the moon and return them safely to Earth. Of the 24 astronauts who flew to the moon, only six remain alive as of February 22, 2025. This includes four moonwalkers—Buzz Aldrin, David Scott, Charles Duke, and Harrison Schmitt—and two who orbited the moon but did not land, James Lovell and Fred Haise. Their stories are not just about space exploration but also about human courage and legacy.

Living Apollo Astronauts

Here’s a breakdown of the six living Apollo astronauts, their ages, and their roles:

• Moon Walkers (Walked on the Moon):
  • Buzz Aldrin, born January 20, 1930, age 95, lunar module pilot on Apollo 11.
  • David Scott, born June 6, 1932, age 93, was commander on Apollo 15.
  • Charles Duke, born October 3, 1935, age 90, lunar module pilot on Apollo 16.
  • Harrison Schmitt, born July 3, 1935, age 90, lunar module pilot on Apollo 17.
• Non-Moon Walkers (Flew to the Moon but Did Not Land):
  • James Lovell, born March 25, 1928, age 97, was command module pilot on Apollo 8 and commander on Apollo 13.
  • Fred Haise, born November 14, 1933, age 92, lunar module pilot on Apollo 13 (the mission was aborted before landing).

These astronauts, now in their 90s, continue to inspire with their contributions to space exploration and their ongoing public engagements.

Surprising Detail: Recent Loss

It’s noteworthy that William Anders, an Apollo 8 astronaut who orbited the moon, died in a plane crash on June 7, 2024, at age 90. This event reduced the number of living Apollo astronauts who flew to the moon from seven to six, highlighting the fragility of their legacy as time passed.

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Survey Note: Comprehensive Analysis of Apollo Astronauts Still Alive in 2025

Introduction and Context

The Apollo program, initiated by NASA in response to President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 challenge, marked one of humanity’s greatest achievements by landing astronauts on the moon between 1969 and 1972. The program involved 24 unique astronauts who flew to the moon across nine missions (Apollo 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17), with six of these missions successfully landing and allowing 12 astronauts to walk on the lunar surface. As of February 22, 2025, only six of these 24 pioneers remain alive, a testament to their age and the passage of time since the program’s conclusion.

This survey note delves into the identities, backgrounds, and current statuses of these living astronauts, providing a detailed examination of their roles, contributions, and the recent loss of William Anders, which reduced the count from seven to six. The analysis aims to honor their legacies while ensuring accuracy through extensive research, including web searches and Wikipedia references, conducted as of the specified date.

Methodology and Research Process

To determine the living Apollo astronauts, a systematic approach was employed, beginning with identifying the 24 astronauts who flew to the moon. Web searches were conducted using queries such as “Apollo astronauts still alive in 2025,” “Apollo astronauts who died in 2025,” and specific death searches for each astronaut (e.g., “Buzz Aldrin death,” “James Lovell death”). These searches utilized platforms like Wikipedia, NASA official pages, and news outlets such as Newsweek, CBS News, and The New York Times, ensuring up-to-date and credible information as of February 22, 2025.

The browse_page function confirmed six alive as of June 2024, with William Anders’ death in June 2024 (William Anders Death: What We Know About Astronaut’s Plane Crash – Newsweek) clarifying the current count.

Detailed Profiles of Living Apollo Astronauts

The six living Apollo astronauts are categorized into moonwalkers (those who walked on the lunar surface) and non-moon walkers (those who flew to the moon but did not land). Below is a detailed breakdown:

Moon Walkers (4 Total)

These astronauts landed on the moon and conducted extravehicular activities (EVAs) on its surface. Their ages and roles are as follows:

Name	Birth Date	Age (2025)	Apollo Mission	Role	Notable Contributions
Buzz Aldrin	January 20, 1930	95	Apollo 11	Lunar Module Pilot	Second person to walk on the moon, Ph.D. in astronautics, advocate for Mars colonization
David Scott	June 6, 1932	93	Apollo 15	Commander	First to drive Lunar Roving Vehicle, demonstrated Galileo’s falling objects theory
Charles Duke	October 3, 1935	90	Apollo 16	Lunar Module Pilot	Youngest moon walker at 36, left family photo on moon, collected 200+ pounds of samples
Harrison Schmitt	July 3, 1935	90	Apollo 17	Lunar Module Pilot	First scientist-astronaut, focused on geological samples, later U.S. Senator from New Mexico

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• Buzz Aldrin: Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Aldrin graduated from West Point in 1951 and served as a fighter pilot in the Korean War, flying 66 combat missions. Selected in NASA’s third astronaut group in 1963, he flew on Gemini 12 in 1966, setting a spacewalk record. On Apollo 11 in 1969, he became the second person to walk on the moon, spending over two hours on the surface. Post-mission, he faced depression and alcoholism but overcame these, becoming an advocate for Mars colonization and authoring books. At 95, he remains active on social media and married Anca Faur in 2023 on his 93rd birthday (Over the moon! Buzz Aldrin marries ‘long-time love’ on his 93rd birthday | Buzz Aldrin | The Guardian).
• David Scott: Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Scott graduated from West Point in 1954 and served as a fighter pilot. Selected in NASA’s second astronaut group in 1963, he flew on Gemini 8 in 1966 and Apollo 9 in 1969 before commanding Apollo 15 in 1971. He spent over two days on the moon, driving the Lunar Roving Vehicle, and conducting experiments, including dropping a feather and hammer to demonstrate Galileo’s theory. Retired in 1977, he worked in aerospace and advocated for preserving Apollo landing sites. At 93, he remains engaged in public speaking.
• Charles Duke: Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Duke graduated from the Naval Academy in 1957 and served as a fighter pilot. Selected in NASA’s fifth group in 1966, he was capcom for Apollo 11 and flew on Apollo 16 in 1972 as a lunar module pilot, becoming the youngest moonwalker at 36. He spent three days on the moon, leaving a family photo, and collected significant samples. Retired in 1975, he now speaks publicly and participates in documentaries. At 90, he inspires with his enthusiasm.
• Harrison Schmitt: Born in Santa Rita, New Mexico, Schmitt earned degrees in geology from Caltech and Harvard. Selected in NASA’s first scientist-astronaut group in 1965, he trained others in geology and flew on Apollo 17 in 1972, spending three days on the moon collecting samples. As the first scientist-astronaut, his work enhanced lunar science. Post-NASA, he served as a U.S. Senator from 1977 to 1983 and consulted on space policy. At 90, he remains active in lectures.

Non-Moon Walkers (2 Total)

These astronauts flew to the moon but remained in orbit, either as command module pilots or as part of missions that did not land. Their details are:

Name	Birth Date	Age (2025)	Apollo Mission	Role	Notable Contributions
James Lovell	March 25, 1928	97	Apollo 8, 13	Command Module Pilot, Commander	Orbited moon on Apollo 8, commanded ill-fated Apollo 13, logged extensive flight hours
Fred Haise	November 14, 1933	92	Apollo 13	Lunar Module Pilot	Part of aborted Apollo 13 mission, trained for lunar landing, later worked in aerospace

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• James Lovell: Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Lovell graduated from the Naval Academy in 1952 and served as a naval aviator. Selected in NASA’s second group in 1962, he flew on Gemini 7, Gemini 12, and Apollo 8 (the first to orbit the moon), and commanded Apollo 13 in 1970, which was aborted due to an oxygen tank explosion but returned safely. At 97, he resides in a Chicago suburb, having retired from the space program in 1973 and worked in business (Jim Lovell – Wikipedia).
• Fred Haise: Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, Haise was a test pilot before being selected in NASA’s fifth group in 1966. On Apollo 13 in 1970, he was the lunar module pilot, but the mission was aborted before landing due to technical issues. At 92, he has worked in aerospace and remains a respected figure in the space community.

Recent Loss and Impact

William Anders, an Apollo 8 astronaut and non-moon walker, died on June 7, 2024, in a plane crash off Washington state, confirmed by his son and reported by William Anders Death: What We Know About Astronaut’s Plane Crash – Newsweek. Born October 17, 1933, Anders was 90 and known for the iconic “Earthrise” photo. His death reduced the number of living Apollo astronauts who flew to the moon from seven (as of January 2024) to six, highlighting the dwindling number of these pioneers.

Common Themes and Legacy

The experiences of these astronauts underscore themes of courage, teamwork, and adaptability. Their missions required facing significant risks, as seen in Apollo 13’s near-disaster and relied on collaboration with ground crews. Their adaptability shone in problem-solving under pressure, such as Lovell’s leadership during Apollo 13’s return. Their legacies inspire ongoing space exploration, with NASA’s Artemis program aiming to return humans to the moon, guided by their wisdom.

Conclusion

As of February 22, 2025, six Apollo astronauts who flew to the moon remain alive, split evenly between moonwalkers and non-moonwalkers. Their stories are a testament to human achievement, with recent losses like Anders reminding us of their finite presence. Their contributions continue to inspire, ensuring the Apollo legacy endures in future space endeavors.

Key Citations

• List of Apollo astronauts – Wikipedia
• William Anders Death: What We Know About Astronaut’s Plane Crash – Newsweek
• Over the moon! Buzz Aldrin marries ‘long-time love’ on his 93rd birthday | Buzz Aldrin | The Guardian
• Jim Lovell – Wikipedia