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NASA Astronaut Gene Cernan, Last Man To Walk On the Moon, Dies At 82 (engadget.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the rest-in-peace dept.

NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Navy captain Gene Cernan was the second American to walk in space and the last to set foot on the moon during that mission. Unfortunately, today Cernan passed away at age 82. Engadget reports: During his time as an astronaut, Cernan logged over 500 hours in space and he spent more than 73 of those on the surface of the moon. Captain Cernan's NASA career began in 1963 and he made his first trip to space as part of the three-day Gemini IX mission in 1966. He went on to serve as the lunar module pilot for the Apollo 10 mission in 1969 before taking the role of spacecraft commander for Apollo 17 in December 1972. Apollo 17 was the last manned mission to the moon for the United States. Cernan retired from the U.S. Navy after a 20-year career in 1976 and left NASA at the same time. Watch Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan and Jack Schmitt sing "I Was Strolling on the Moon One Day" on YouTube.

9 of 99 comments (clear)

  1. Obligatory XKCD by ClickOnThis · · Score: 4, Interesting

    https://xkcd.com/893/

    May need to be updated soon.

    RIP, Gene.

    --
    If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
  2. Re:Don't you mean... by Gr8Apes · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Remember, Buzz Aldrin is still around. It's not the last person who had walked on the Moon, it's the person to last have done so.

    FTFY

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    The cesspool just got a check and balance.
  3. Re:Don't you mean... by Nutria · · Score: 2

    Buzz Aldrin is still around to punch out "brave" people who tell the "hard truth".

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    "I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1
  4. Fair Winds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

    And Following Seas.

    Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning

  5. With an obligatory quote . . . by mmell · · Score: 2

    Jim Lovell: Imagine if Christopher Columbus had come back from the New World and no one returned in his footsteps.

    1. Re:With an obligatory quote . . . by murdocj · · Score: 2

      Imagine if we spent all of our money and time on sending guys on the moon and didn't send robotic explorers out.

  6. Re:Don't you mean... by jfdavis668 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Remember, if the Moon landings were faked, the coverup was lead by Richard Nixon. A man who couldn't cover up an office break in.

  7. Re:Explore the ocean depths by kamapuaa · · Score: 2

    The dream of space exploration & colonization is that it's a stepping stone towards other worlds and a vast spread of humanity across the galaxy. Not simply a one-time deal that adds a new region of Earth for humans to live in, but at great expense & difficulty.

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    Slashdot: providing anti-social weirdos a soapbox, since 1997.
  8. Re: Sad that the Republicans... by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 2

    Because the democrats and Obama love science so much that the space shuttle program was ended during their reign with no viable replacement in the near future.

    From G.W. Bush's "Vision for Space exploration speech, January 14, 2004:

    The Shuttle's chief purpose over the next several years will be to help finish assembly of the International Space Station. In 2010, the Space Shuttle — after nearly 30 years of duty — will be retired from service.

    — President George W. Bush

    January 14, 2004

    reference http://spaceksc.blogspot.com/2...

    It was extended by a few lights after Bush left office.

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    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.