Harrison Schmitt: The First Scientist on the Moon

Early Life and Career

WEB Harrison Hagan Schmitt was born on July 3, 1935, in Santa Rita, New Mexico. He earned a bachelor's degree in geology from the California Institute of Technology in 1957 and a doctorate from Harvard University in 1964.

After completing his studies, Schmitt worked as a geologist for the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He specialized in lunar geology and was selected as a scientist-astronaut for the Apollo program in 1965.

Apollo 17 Mission

Schmitt was the lunar module pilot on the Apollo 17 mission, which launched on December 7, 1972. He and mission commander Eugene Cernan became the first and last humans to walk on the Moon.

During their time on the lunar surface, Schmitt and Cernan collected lunar samples, conducted experiments, and took photographs. Schmitt's expertise as a geologist allowed him to provide valuable insights into the composition and structure of the Moon.

After the Apollo 17 mission, Schmitt retired from NASA and pursued a career in politics. He served as a United States Senator from New Mexico from 1977 to 1983.

Schmitt continued to be involved in space exploration and science throughout his life. He served on several NASA advisory committees and was a strong advocate for space exploration.