JULY 16-24, 1969: The veteran of a near-disastrous Gemini 8 mission, Neil Armstrong kept his cool despite repeated computer program alarms and a guidance system that tried to land in a field of boulders. Apollo 11 command module pilot Michael Collins stayed in orbit around the moon and is one of 24 people to have flown to the moon.
APOLLO 12 APOLLO 14
Jan. 31-Feb. 9, 1971: After the Apollo 13 mission had to be aborted, but safely returned to Earth, the Apollo 14 mission was delayed four months. Alan Shepard was the oldest U.S. astronaut (48) when he commanded the mission. The astronauts used a handcart to carry their tools.
APOLLO 15
July 26-Aug. 7, 1971: The first mission to stay three days on the lunar surface and the first to use the lunar rover, an electric-powered, four-wheel-drive car. The astronauts also brought back the more rock samples including the “Genesis Rock” believed to be more than 4 billion years old.
APOLLO 16
April 20, 1972: First to explore the rugged Descartes Highlands area of the moon to examine structures suspected to be volcanic in origin. Astronauts also deployed the first cosmic ray detector; took detailed ultraviolet pictures of Earth and space and released a small satellite.
APOLLO 17
Dec. 7-19, 1972:
Harrison became the first professional scientist to fly in space and the only geologist to walk on the moon. The mission featured the longest moon landing, longest total extravehicular activities (moonwalks), largest lunar sample, and longest time in lunar orbit.
NOV. 14-24, 1969: The liftoff was during stormy weather and several lightning strikes knocked out power in the command module. Pete Conrad's pinpoint landing meant he and Alan Bean could easily walk 200 yards to the Surveyor 3 probe that had landed 21/2 years before.1930-1999 Princeton U.S. Navy pilotWas part of Gemini, Apollo and Skylab missions. 3. Charles “Pete” Conrad
6. Edgar Mitchell 1930-2016Carnegie Mellon UniversityU.S. Navy pilotHis expertise helped guide the Apollo 13 astronauts back to Earth.Founded a parapsychological institute after leaving the Navy in 1972.
8. James B. Irwin1930-1991U.S. Naval Academy, University of MichiganU.S. Air Force pilotRetired in 1972 and founded the High Flight Foundation, a Christian goodwill organization.
5. Alan B. Shepard Jr. 1923-1998U.S. Naval AcademyU.S. Navy pilotBecame the first American in space in 1961. Fifth to walk on the moon. Hit two golf balls on the moon using a makeshift club.
10. Charles M. Duke Jr. 1935U.S.Naval Academy, MITU.S. Air Force pilotWould have been on Apollo 13 but contracted measles.Retired from the Air Force in 1986 as a one-star general.
7. David R. Scott 1932Universityof Michigan, MITU.S. Air Force pilotBecame the first person to drive on the moon. Piloted Apollo 9 and was commander of Apollo 15.
4. Alan L. Bean 1932Universityof TexasU.S. Navy pilotPart of Apollo and Skylab missions. Retired to become a painter.
2. Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin 1930West Point, MITU.S. Air Force fighter pilotlunar module pilotHad Communion after he landed on the moon.
12. Harrison Schmit 1935Caltech, Harvard Geologist Trained as a U.S. Air Force pilot One term in U.S. Senate ('76-'82) for New Mexico Has been a critic of global warming theories.
9. John W. Young 1930-2018Georgia Institute of TechnologyU.S. Navy pilotTook a roast beef sandwich on a Gemini series flight. After the Apollo program, he piloted two Space Shuttle missions.
1. Neil Armstrong 1930-2012Purdue University, USCU.S. Navy fighter pilotCommander on Gemini and Apollo missionsFirst man to walk on the moon.
11. Eugene Cernan 1934-2017 Purdue University U.S. Navy pilot Cernan holds the lunar rover speed record of 11.2 mph. After NASA, he became a business man and ABC News contributor.