Charlie Duke

Charles Moss “Charlie” Duke Jr. is a former American astronaut, retired U.S. Air Force officer and test pilot. Duke was one of the 19 astronauts selected by NASA in April 1966. He served as member of the astronaut support crew for the Apollo 10 flight. He wasCAPCOM for Apollo 11 during the first landing on the Moon. Mr. Duke served as backup lunar module pilot on Apollo 13.

Additionally, Duke served as lunar module pilot of Apollo 16, April 16-27, 1972. He was accompanied on the fifth manned lunar landing mission by John W.Young (spacecraft commander) and Thomas K. Mattingly II (command module pilot). Apollo 16 was the first scientific expedition to inspect, survey, and sample materials and surface features in the Descartes region of the rugged lunar highlands. Duke and Young commenced their record setting lunar surface stay of 71 hours and 14 minutes by maneuvering the lunar module “Orion” to a landing on the rough Cayley Plains.

In three subsequent excursions onto the lunar surface, they each logged 20 hours and 15 minutes in extravehicular activities. This involved the emplacement and activation of scientific equipment and experiments. They collected nearly 213 pounds of rock and soil samples. Also, they evaluated and used the Rover-2 over the roughest and blockiest surface yet encountered on the moon.