Harrison Schmitt

Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt is a distinguished American geologist and former NASA astronaut. He holds a unique place in the history of space exploration. Schmitt is the most recent living person to have walked on the Moon. He is also the only person to walk on the Moon without a background in military aviation. As a member of the Apollo 17 crew in December 1972, he became the first scientist-astronaut to fly in space. This role allowed him to apply professional scientific training to lunar exploration.

Schmitt's career involved a deep connection between geology and spaceflight. Before joining NASA in June 1965, he worked at the U.S. Geological Survey's Astrogeology Center in Arizona. There, he developed geological field techniques for future Apollo crews. After his selection as an astronaut, he spent one year learning to be a jet pilot. He then trained Apollo crews to be effective geologic observers and field workers. He also helped evaluate lunar samples returned to Earth. This expertise ensured that scientific data was gathered accurately during lunar missions.

His journey to the Moon was shaped by specific mission changes. In March 1970, Schmitt was assigned to the Apollo 15 backup crew. He was scheduled to fly on the Apollo 18 or Apollo 19 missions. However, those missions were canceled in September 1970. Because the scientific community wanted a professional geologist on the Moon, they pressured NASA for a change. Consequently, Schmitt was reassigned to the Apollo 17 mission in August 1971. He served as the Lunar Module Pilot alongside commander Gene Cernan.

During the Apollo 17 mission, Schmitt achieved several historic milestones. He was the twelfth person to walk on the Moon and the second-youngest. He also became the second-to-last person to step off the lunar surface. While exploring, he collected a famous rock sample called Troctolite 76535. Scientists believe this sample is vital evidence that the Moon once had an active magnetic field. Schmitt also claims to have taken the famous "Blue Marble" photograph of Earth. NASA credits the entire Apollo 17 crew with this iconic image.

Schmitt's academic background provided the foundation for his scientific success. He grew up in Silver City, New Mexico, and graduated from Western High School in 1953. He earned a Bachelor of Science in geology from the California Institute of Technology in 1957. Following this, he studied geology in Norway as a Fulbright Scholar. He eventually received a Doctor of Philosophy in geology from Harvard University in 1964. His field studies in Norway were central to his doctoral work. This rigorous training prepared him for the complex tasks of lunar geology.

After leaving NASA in August 1975, Schmitt entered the world of politics. He ran as a Republican candidate for the United States Senate in New Mexico. He defeated the Democratic incumbent, Joseph Montoya, in the 1976 election. Schmitt served one term in the Senate and chaired the Science, Technology, and Space Subcommittee. He ran for re-election in 1982 but was defeated by Democrat Jeff Bingaman. This transition from astronaut to senator showed his influence in both science and government.

In his later years, Schmitt has remained active in various scientific and civic fields. He has worked as a consultant in business, geology, and public policy. He is also an adjunct professor of engineering physics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Schmitt has long advocated for using lunar resources, such as helium-3, for future energy. He believes that exploring the Moon is the fastest way to reach Mars. In 2018, a device called the Schmitt Space Communicator was launched in his honor. This tool demonstrated commercial Wi-Fi and data services in space.