Introduction: The End of an Era
On December 14, 1972, as Commander Eugene Cernan climbed the ladder of the Apollo 17 Lunar Module, he became the last human being to leave footprints on the lunar surface. What he thought would be a temporary pause in mankind’s lunar exploration has stretched into more than five decades of absence from the Moon’s surface. As we look toward NASA’s Artemis program and humanity’s planned return to the Moon, Cernan’s final lunar expedition remains a powerful testament to human achievement and a poignant moment in our spacefaring history.
“As I take man’s last step from the surface, back home for some time to come – but we believe not too long into the future – I’d like to just say what I believe history will record. That America’s challenge of today has forged man’s destiny of tomorrow.”
These words, spoken by Cernan as he prepared to leave the lunar surface, reflected both pride in what had been accomplished and hope for what was yet to come. But who was Eugene Cernan, and how did he come to hold this distinction in human history? Let’s explore the remarkable journey of the last person to walk on the Moon.
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Eugene Cernan: The Early Years
From Chicago to the Stars
Eugene Andrew Cernan was born on March 14, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois, to Andrew George Cernan, a manufacturing foreman, and Rose A. Cihlar Cernan. His journey to becoming an astronaut began far from the lunar surface, with a solid education and military service that would prepare him for the challenges ahead.
Education and Naval Career
Cernan’s path to space began at Purdue University, where he was actively involved in the U.S. Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) and several honor societies. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1956, he was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy.
As a naval aviator, Cernan demonstrated exceptional skill, making approximately 200 landings on aircraft carriers – a precision experience that would later prove invaluable in his space career. His academic pursuits continued at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1963.
That same year marked a turning point in Cernan’s career when NASA selected him as part of Astronaut Group 3, joining thirteen other astronauts announced on October 18, 1963. This opportunity opened the door to Cernan’s participation in the space program and his eventual place in history.
Cernan’s Journey to the Moon
First Steps in Space: Gemini IX-A
Before commanding Apollo 17, Cernan gained valuable spaceflight experience on two previous missions. His first venture into space came as the pilot of Gemini IX-A, which launched on June 3, 1966, with Thomas P. Stafford as command pilot.
During this mission, Cernan became the second American to perform an extravehicular activity (EVA), commonly known as a spacewalk. This EVA proved challenging, lasting over two hours in what turned out to be a problematic spacesuit. Despite the difficulties, the experience provided crucial insights for future spacewalks and demonstrated Cernan’s determination and capability in the face of adversity.
Apollo 10: Dress Rehearsal for History
Cernan’s second spaceflight came with Apollo 10 in May 1969, a critical dress rehearsal for the first lunar landing that would follow with Apollo 11. As the lunar module pilot, Cernan, along with mission commander Thomas Stafford, brought the landing craft within just 15 kilometers (9 miles) of the lunar surface, testing all procedures necessary for a lunar landing except the landing itself.
This mission played an essential role in validating the Apollo systems and paving the way for the historic first lunar landing. While Cernan didn’t land on the Moon during this mission, he gained invaluable experience that would serve him well as commander of Apollo 17 three years later.
Apollo 17: NASA’s Final Lunar Mission
The Mission Profile
Apollo 17, the culmination of NASA’s Apollo program, launched from Kennedy Space Center on December 7, 1972, after experiencing the only launch-pad delay in the Apollo program’s history. The mission, classified as a “J-type” mission, was designed to maximize scientific return with an extended stay on the lunar surface and enhanced scientific capabilities.
The three-man crew consisted of:
- Commander Eugene Cernan
- Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt (the first and only scientist-astronaut to walk on the Moon)
- Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans
Destination: Taurus-Littrow Valley
The mission targeted the Taurus-Littrow valley, selected after careful consideration of two primary objectives:
- To sample lunar highland material older than that found at Mare Imbrium
- To investigate possible evidence of relatively recent volcanic activity on the Moon
All three crew members had previously served as backup crew for other Apollo missions, giving them familiarity with the spacecraft and allowing more time for specialized geology training—particularly important given the mission’s scientific focus.
Scientific Achievements of Apollo 17
Apollo 17’s scientific legacy continues to this day, with samples collected during the mission remaining valuable subjects of study more than 50 years later.
Key Discoveries
One of the mission’s scientific highlights came during their exploration of Shorty crater, where Cernan and Schmitt discovered orange soil that was later determined to be volcanic in origin, though from early in the Moon’s history rather than recent activity.
Among the collected samples was a troctolite (Sample 76535) that would later be identified as having significant scientific importance. This sample, collected near the North Massif, was later identified as the oldest known “unshocked” lunar rock and has been essential in studies to determine if the Moon formed a metallic core.
Mission Statistics
| Apollo 17 By The Numbers | |
| Launch Date | December 7, 1972 |
| Landing Site | Taurus-Littrow Valley |
| Time on Lunar Surface | 3 days, 2 hours, 59 minutes |
| Moonwalks | 3 (total time: 22 hours, 4 minutes) |
| Distance Traveled on Moon | 35 kilometers (22 miles) using Lunar Roving Vehicle |
| Samples Collected | 110.5 kg (243.6 lbs) |
| Return to Earth | December 19, 1972 |
The Final Moonwalk: December 14, 1972
Exploration and Discovery
The third and final moonwalk of Apollo 17—and of the Apollo program itself—began at 5:25 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 13, 1972. During this excursion, Cernan and Schmitt rode the lunar rover northeast of their landing site, exploring the base of the North Massif and the Sculptured Hills.
Their exploration included stops at various geological stations, including one at a house-sized split boulder nicknamed “Tracy’s Rock” (after Cernan’s daughter) and another at Van Serg crater. This final EVA proved highly productive, with the astronauts collecting 66 kilograms (146 pounds) of lunar samples and taking nine gravimeter measurements.
Additionally, they collected a breccia rock that was dedicated to the nations of Earth and later distributed as the “Friendship Rock” to 70 countries represented by students who were present at Mission Control during the mission.
Cernan’s Final Steps and Historic Words
As the EVA neared its conclusion, the crew unveiled a plaque on the lunar module that commemorated the achievements of the Apollo program. Then came the moment that would mark the end of an era—Eugene Cernan’s final steps on the lunar surface.
Before climbing the ladder into the lunar module for the last time, Cernan paused to deliver a message for posterity. His full quote captured the magnitude of the moment and expressed hope for humanity’s future in space:
“I’m on the surface, and, as I take man’s last step from the surface, back home for some time to come – but we believe not too long into the future – I’d like to just [say] what I believe history will record. That America’s challenge of today has forged man’s destiny of tomorrow. And, as we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind. Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17.”
After these historic words, Cernan followed Schmitt into the lunar module, concluding the final lunar excursion, which had lasted seven hours and fifteen minutes. Following the closing of the lunar module hatch and repressurization of the cabin, the astronauts removed their spacesuits and reconfigured the cabin for a final rest period on the lunar surface.
The Legacy of Eugene Cernan
Life After the Moon
In the years following his return from the Moon, Cernan continued to contribute to the space program. He assisted with the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, which was completed in July 1975, before resigning from the Navy and NASA in 1976 to pursue opportunities in private business.
Throughout his later life, he remained an advocate for space exploration and a living link to humanity’s greatest adventure. Cernan documented his experiences in the 1999 book “The Last Man on the Moon,” co-written with journalist Don Davis. His story was also featured in a documentary film of the same name, released in 2014.
Preserving the Legacy
These works helped preserve the firsthand account of what it meant to be the last person to walk on another world and to carry that distinction for decades longer than anyone had anticipated. You can hear Cernan discuss his experiences in this interview, where he reflects on the significance of being the last person to leave footprints on the lunar surface.
On January 16, 2017, Eugene Cernan passed away in Houston, Texas, at the age of 82. At the time of his death, he still held the title of “the last man on the Moon,” a distinction that endures to this day as humanity contemplates a return to lunar exploration through programs like Artemis.
The End of the Apollo Era
Why Did Lunar Exploration End?
The significance of Eugene Cernan’s position as the last person to walk on the Moon extends beyond personal achievement. It represents the conclusion of the Apollo era and the most ambitious exploration program humans had ever undertaken. When Apollo 17 splashed down on December 19, 1972, it marked not only the end of the mission but also the conclusion of an era that saw humans directly explore another world.
Though many expected lunar exploration to resume in the near future, as Cernan himself expressed in his final words on the Moon, human footprints have not disturbed the lunar dust since Apollo 17. Several factors contributed to this prolonged absence:
- Shifting national priorities and budget constraints
- Focus on other space initiatives such as Skylab, the Space Shuttle, and the International Space Station
- Changes in geopolitical dynamics following the end of the Space Race
- The rising costs of space exploration and competing demands for federal funding
The Apollo Missions’ Collective Achievement
| Apollo Lunar Landing Missions | Commander | Lunar Module Pilot | Landing Date | Landing Site |
| Apollo 11 | Neil Armstrong | Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin | July 20, 1969 | Sea of Tranquility |
| Apollo 12 | Charles Conrad | Alan Bean | November 19, 1969 | Ocean of Storms |
| Apollo 14 | Alan Shepard | Edgar Mitchell | February 5, 1971 | Fra Mauro |
| Apollo 15 | David Scott | James Irwin | July 30, 1971 | Hadley-Apennine |
| Apollo 16 | John Young | Charles Duke | April 21, 1972 | Descartes Highlands |
| Apollo 17 | Eugene Cernan | Harrison Schmitt | December 11, 1972 | Taurus-Littrow Valley |
Note: Apollo 13 was intended to land but had to abort its lunar landing due to an oxygen tank explosion.
Looking to the Future: Returning to the Moon
The Artemis Program
As we look toward future lunar exploration through new programs and international collaboration, Cernan’s legacy reminds us of what humans can achieve through determination, courage, and a collective commitment to pushing the boundaries of exploration.
NASA’s Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon by the mid-2020s, including the first woman and the next man to walk on the lunar surface. When humans eventually return to the lunar surface, they will follow in the footsteps of Eugene Cernan, closing a chapter in the history of space exploration that has remained open far longer than anyone involved in the Apollo program could have imagined.
The Scientific Value of Returning
The samples collected by Cernan and Schmitt continue to yield new insights decades after they were brought to Earth. Future missions will build upon this scientific foundation, potentially establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon and using it as a proving ground for technologies that will eventually take humans to Mars and beyond.
Conclusion: The Lasting Impact of the Last Man on the Moon
Eugene Cernan’s role as the last person to walk on the Moon represents both a pinnacle of human achievement and a poignant pause in our journey of exploration. His words as he left the lunar surface—expressing hope for a return “not too long into the future”—reflect an optimism about humanity’s continued presence beyond Earth that, while not yet fulfilled regarding the Moon, continues to drive our spacefaring ambitions.
The Apollo 17 mission, with its emphasis on science and discovery, provided a fitting conclusion to the Apollo program by demonstrating the value of human exploration in advancing our understanding of the Moon and, by extension, our solar system. Cernan’s legacy lives on not only in the history books but also in the lunar samples he helped collect, the scientific discoveries that resulted from Apollo 17, and the inspiration he provided to generations of aspiring explorers.
As we stand on the cusp of humanity’s return to the Moon, we can reflect on Cernan’s final lunar message with renewed meaning. Soon, another astronaut will take that first step back onto the lunar surface, ending the long pause that began when Cernan climbed aboard the Lunar Module on December 14, 1972. When that happens, Cernan will no longer be “the last man on the Moon,” but his place in history as a pioneer of space exploration will remain forever secured.
