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Charles Duke

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Charles Duke
Charles Duke
NASA · Public domain · source
NameCharles Duke
CaptionOfficial NASA portrait
TypeNASA Astronaut
NationalityAmerican
StatusRetired
Birth nameCharles Moss Duke Jr.
Birth date3 October 1935
Birth placeCharlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
OccupationTest pilot, United States Air Force officer
RankBrigadier General, USAF
Selection1966 NASA Group 5
Time11d 01h 51m
MissionApollo 16
RetirementJanuary 1, 1976

Charles Duke is a former United States Air Force officer, test pilot, and NASA astronaut who served as the Lunar Module Pilot for the Apollo 16 mission. He is the tenth and youngest person to have walked on the Moon, where he conducted extensive geological exploration of the Descartes Highlands. Following his career with NASA, Duke pursued business ventures and became a prominent Christian lay witness, sharing his experiences from space exploration.

Early Life and Education

Charles Moss Duke Jr. was born on October 3, 1935, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He attended Lancaster High School before receiving an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Naval Sciences and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Duke subsequently earned a Master of Science degree in Aeronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1964, which included coursework at the Air Force Institute of Technology.

Career

After completing flight training at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, Duke served as a fighter pilot flying the F-86 Sabre and F-104 Starfighter in West Germany and at various bases in the United States. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California in 1965. Selected as a member of NASA Astronaut Group 5 in 1966, he served as a member of the astronaut support crew for the Apollo 10 mission and was the capsule communicator (CAPCOM) for the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing, famously conveying the news of a successful touchdown to Mission Control.

Apollo 16 Mission

As Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 16, Duke, along with mission commander John Young and command module pilot Ken Mattingly, launched from the Kennedy Space Center on April 16, 1972. The mission was the fifth to land humans on the Moon and the first to explore the lunar highlands. Duke and Young landed the Apollo Lunar Module *Orion* in the Descartes Highlands on April 21. During three moonwalks totaling over 20 hours, they deployed the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package, collected nearly 213 pounds of geological samples, and used the Lunar Roving Vehicle to traverse the region. Duke left a commemorative family portrait on the lunar surface. The crew splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean near the recovery ship USS *Ticonderoga* on April 27.

Later Life and Career

After Apollo 16, Duke served as backup Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 17 and was instrumental in developing the Space Shuttle program. He retired from NASA and the United States Air Force with the rank of brigadier general in 1976. He then entered the business world in San Antonio, Texas, co-founding Duke Investments and working in real estate and other ventures. A profound spiritual experience led him to become an active Christian evangelist, and he founded the organization Duke Ministry for Christ. He has authored books, including *Moonwalker*, and frequently speaks about his faith and his experiences on the Moon.

Awards and Honors

Charles Duke has received numerous prestigious awards for his service. These include the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross. He was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1983 and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1997. Duke and his fellow Apollo 16 crew members were awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. He also holds an honorary doctorate from the University of South Carolina.

Category:American astronauts Category:Apollo astronauts Category:United States Air Force officers Category:People from Charlotte, North Carolina Category:Lunar explorers