American politician, astronaut and lunar explorer (born 1935)
Harrison Schmitt
Schmitt in 1971
United States Senator from New Mexico
In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1983
Preceded by
Joseph Montoya
Succeeded by
Jeff Bingaman
Personal details
Born
Harrison Hagan Schmitt
(1935-07-03) July 3, 1935 (age 88) Santa Rita, New Mexico, U.S.
Political party
Republican
Spouse
Teresa Fitzgibbon
Education
California Institute of Technology (BS)
University of Oslo
Harvard University (PhD)
Awards
NASA Distinguished Service Medal
Space career
NASA astronaut
Time in space
12d 13h 52m
Selection
NASA Group 4 (1965)
Total EVAs
3 on the lunar surface[1]
Total EVA time
20h 35m[2]
Missions
Apollo 17
Mission insignia
Retirement
August 30, 1975
Scientific career
Fields
Geology
Institutions
U.S. Geological Survey
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Thesis
Petrology and Structure of the Eiksundsdal Eclogite Complex, Hareidland, Sunnmøre, Norway(1964)
Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt (born July 3, 1935) is an American geologist, former NASA astronaut, university professor, former U.S. senator from New Mexico, and the most recent living person—and only person without a background in military aviation—to have walked on the Moon.[3]
In December 1972, as one of the crew on board Apollo 17, Schmitt became the first member of NASA's first scientist-astronaut group to fly in space. As Apollo 17 was the last of the Apollo missions, he also became the twelfth and second-youngest person to set foot on the Moon and the second-to-last person to step off of the Moon (he boarded the Lunar Module shortly before commander Eugene Cernan). Schmitt also remains the only professional scientist to have flown beyond low Earth orbit and to have visited the Moon.[4] He was influential within the community of geologists supporting the Apollo program and, before starting his own preparations for an Apollo mission, had been one of the scientists training those Apollo astronauts chosen to visit the lunar surface.
Schmitt resigned from NASA in August 1975 to run for election to the United States Senate as a member from New Mexico. As the Republican candidate in the 1976 election, he defeated Democratic incumbent Joseph Montoya. In the 1982 election, Schmitt was defeated by Democrat Jeff Bingaman.
^"Apollo 17". NASA. March 16, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
^"Extravehicular Activity". NASA. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
^"Biography". NASA. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
^"Naked Science: Living on the Moon". National Geographic Television. August 15, 2010.
Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt (born July 3, 1935) is an American geologist, former NASA astronaut, university professor, former U.S. senator from New...
to walk on the Moon. As he re-entered the Apollo Lunar Module after HarrisonSchmitt on their third and final lunar excursion, he remains the most recent...
HarrisonSchmitt, a geologist, was the first NASA scientist astronaut to fly in space, and landed on the Moon on the last mission, Apollo 17. Schmitt...
Cernan and Lunar Module Pilot HarrisonSchmitt walked on the Moon, while Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans orbited above. Schmitt was the only professional...
(NASA designation AS17-148-22727) was taken by either Ron Evans or HarrisonSchmitt of the crew of the Apollo 17 spacecraft on its way to the Moon, and...
rather than test or military fighter pilot experience. Geologist Harrison H. "Jack" Schmitt participated heavily in the geological training of the lunar landing...
ran for re-election to a third term, but was defeated by Republican HarrisonSchmitt. As of 2024, this is the last time that the Republicans have won the...
others requiring a 6-foot (1.8 m) long horizontal pole. Gene Cernan and HarrisonSchmitt carried a second, identical flag to the Moon and back, and presented...
cancellation of later flights prompted NASA to select geologist-astronaut HarrisonSchmitt as LMP, displacing Engle. Engle was born on August 26, 1932, in Chapman...
to the Senate, defeating one-term Republican incumbent HarrisonSchmitt. Bingaman accused Schmitt of not paying enough attention to local matters; his campaign...
Cernan Ronald Evans HarrisonSchmitt Apollo 18 J February 1972 Schroter's Valley Richard F. Gordon Jr. Vance Brand HarrisonSchmitt CANCELED September...
were sung on the Moon by NASA Astronauts HarrisonSchmitt and Eugene Cernan on the Apollo 17 mission. Schmitt started by singing "I was strolling on the...
Space Shuttle mission. Astronaut (and later, United States Senator) HarrisonSchmitt (BS 1957) was the only geologist to have walked on the surface of the...
Brand (Command Module pilot (CMP)) HarrisonSchmitt (Lunar Module pilot (LMP)) When Apollo 18 was canceled, Schmitt was moved up to Apollo 17 under pressure...
functions on the Moon with no major anomalies. Scientist-astronaut HarrisonSchmitt of Apollo 17 said, "The Lunar Rover proved to be the reliable, safe...
senators have maintained the candy desk tradition, including John McCain, HarrisonSchmitt, and Rick Santorum, who stocked it with confectionery from his home...
Archived from the original (PDF) on March 10, 2016. "Astronaut Bio: HarrisonSchmitt". NASA. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Compton 1989...
Democratic victory nationwide, Montoya was defeated by Republican HarrisonSchmitt 57% to 42%. Montoya died in Washington, D.C., at the age of 62. List...
re-election to a third term, but was defeated by Republican former Astronaut HarrisonSchmitt. Incumbent Conservative James Buckley ran for re-election to a second...
took place on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator HarrisonSchmitt was running for re-election to a second term, but lost to Democrat...
Engle as LMP. The backup crew, with HarrisonSchmitt replacing Engle, would become the prime crew of Apollo 17. Schmitt flew instead of Engle because there...
Senator Schmitt may refer to: Eric Schmitt (born 1975), U.S. senator from Missouri since 2023 HarrisonSchmitt (born 1935), U.S. senator from New Mexico...
Member: Robert C. Byrd) Labor-Health, Education and Welfare (Chair: HarrisonSchmitt; Ranking Member: William Proxmire) Legislative (Chair: Mack Mattingly;...
across at its widest point. It was collected by geologist astronaut HarrisonSchmitt as part of a "rake sample" of lunar soil at Geology Station 6, near...
Irwin (Apollo 15) John Young (Apollo 16) Charles Duke (Apollo 16) HarrisonSchmitt (Apollo 17) Gene Cernan (Apollo 17) Flew to the Moon without landing...
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