January 16

Eugene Cernan was a United States Navy captain, aviator, and NASA astronaut. He flew aboard Gemini 9 and served as the lunar module pilot for Apollo 10. As commander of Apollo 17 in 1972, Cernan became the last person to walk on the Moon to date. During his tenure at NASA, he accumulated over 566 hours in space, including 22 hours of lunar surface activity. Cernan was known for his dedication to exploration and his efforts to inspire future generations. After retiring from NASA, he shared his experiences through public speaking and advocacy for space exploration. He passed away in early 2017, leaving a legendary legacy in the history of human spaceflight.