Harrison Schmitt

Harrison Schmitt
NASA · Public domain · source
Name	Harrison Schmitt
Caption	Harrison Schmitt in 1973
Birth date	November 3, 1935
Birth place	Santa Rita, New Mexico, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Geologist, astronaut, politician, university professor
Known for	Apollo 17 lunar mission, United States Senate
Alma mater	California Institute of Technology, Harvard University, University of New Mexico
Awards	NASA Distinguished Service Medal, NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal

Harrison Schmitt is an American geologist, former NASA astronaut, and politician who flew on Apollo 17, the last crewed mission to the Moon, and later represented New Mexico in the United States Senate. A trained field geologist and academic, he contributed to lunar sample analysis, planetary science, and terrestrial geologic mapping before and after his NASA tenure. Schmitt combined scientific expertise with public service, influencing space policy, resource exploration, and research institutions during the late 20th century.

Early life and education

Born in Santa Rita, New Mexico, Schmitt grew up amid the Southwest mining communities linked to Phelps Dodge operations and nearby Bayard, New Mexico. He attended Stanford University for undergraduate studies before earning a Bachelor of Science at the California Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in geology from the Harvard University Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, with doctoral work connected to the U.S. Geological Survey and field studies in the San Juan Mountains and on the Colorado Plateau. Early mentors included faculty from Caltech and Harvard, and he later held positions at the U.S. Geological Survey and the New Mexico School of Mines.

Geological career and research

Schmitt’s research emphasized field mapping, petrology, and stratigraphy, with significant work on ore deposits associated with porphyry copper systems and volcanic terrains of the North American Cordillera. He conducted geological mapping in regions such as the Gila National Forest and contributed papers to journals linked to the Geological Society of America and the American Geophysical Union. Schmitt collaborated with scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory and the National Academy of Sciences on studies of mineralization, tectonics, and planetary analogs used in preparation for lunar exploration. His expertise in lunar analog geology informed comparative studies between terrestrial basalts and samples returned from the Moon, aiding interpretations related to mare volcanism and impact processes tied to the Mare Imbrium and Tsiolkovskiy crater analogs.

NASA career and Apollo 17

Selected as a scientist-astronaut in the NASA Group 4 (1965) cadre, Schmitt trained at the Johnson Space Center and participated in geology field training with instructors from the U.S. Geological Survey and the Smithsonian Institution. Assigned to the Apollo 17 prime crew with commander Eugene Cernan and command module pilot Ronald Evans, he became the first professional geologist to walk on the Moon, conducting extravehicular activities in the Taurus–Littrow valley. Schmitt collected samples including the famous Troctolite 76535 and documented stratigraphic relations among lunar mare deposits, sampling regolith, and deploying experiments for the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package. His work supported laboratories at Johnson Space Center, the Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility, and investigators from institutions such as Caltech, MIT, and the University of Arizona in interpreting lunar petrogenesis, impact chronology, and lunar volcanism.

Post-NASA academic and professional work

After leaving active flight status, Schmitt engaged with academic institutions including the University of Wisconsin–Madison and consulting roles with the U.S. Department of Energy and industry partners like Union Carbide and mineral exploration firms. He lectured at universities including Princeton University and participated in committees of the National Research Council and panels for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on lunar and planetary science. Schmitt authored and co-authored publications in outlets associated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science and contributed to conferences hosted by the International Astronautical Federation concerning lunar resources, in-situ resource utilization, and planetary surface operations.

Political career and public service

Schmitt ran for and was elected to the United States Senate from New Mexico in 1976 as a member of the Republican Party, serving one term from 1977 to 1983. In the Senate he sat on committees interacting with agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Energy, and the Armed Services Committee, advocating for policies on space commercialization, mineral policy, and energy development. Schmitt campaigned on platforms tied to natural resource development and science-based decision making, engaging with constituencies across Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and rural New Mexico during his tenure. After his Senate service he remained active in advisory roles for presidential administrations, testified before congressional committees, and participated in policy dialogues with think tanks including the Heritage Foundation and the Brookings Institution.

Honors, awards, and legacy

Schmitt received honors such as the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal, and was awarded honorary degrees from institutions including New Mexico State University and Dartmouth College. He is a member of organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences and has been inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame and the International Space Hall of Fame. Schmitt’s legacy endures in lunar science, reflected in continued research at facilities like the Lunar and Planetary Institute and in ongoing discussions of lunar resource utilization, planetary field methods, and the role of scientist-astronauts in exploration. His career bridges institutions ranging from Caltech to the United States Senate, influencing generations of geologists, astronauts, and policymakers.

Category:American geologists Category:Apollo astronauts Category:United States Senators from New Mexico Category:Harvard University alumni