Eugene Cernan
"Cernan" redirects here. For other uses, see Cernan (disambiguation). Eugene A. Cernan NASA Astronaut Nationality American Status Retired Born Eugene Andrew Cernan (1934-03-14) March 14, 1934 (age 80) Bellwood, Illinois, U.S. Other occupation Fighter pilot Alma mater Purdue University, B.S. 1956 NPS, M.S. 1963 Rank Captain, USN Time in space 23d 14h 15m Selection 1963 NASA Group 3 Total EVAs 4 Total EVA time 24 hours 11 minutes Missions Gemini 9A, Apollo 10, Apollo 17 Mission insignia Retirement July 1, 1976 Awards Eugene Andrew "Gene" Cernan (/ˈsər.nən/; born March 14, 1934), (Capt, USN, Ret.), is a former American naval officer and aviator, electrical engineer, aeronautical engineer, fighter pilot, and NASA astronaut. He has been into space three times: as Pilot of Gemini 9A in June 1966; as Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 10 in May 1969; and as Commander of Apollo 17 in December 1972, the final Apollo lunar landing. On Apollo 17, Cernan became the eleventh person to walk on the Moon and the last man on the Moon since he was the last to re-enter the Lunar Module Challenger after the mission's third and final extra-vehicular activity (EVA). (Crewmate Harrison Schmitt was the last man to arrive on the Moon, as Cernan left the module first.) Cernan was also a backup crew member for the Gemini 12, Apollo 7 and Apollo 14 space missions.