Walking on the lunar surface during the 1972 Apollo 16 mission, Charles Duke became the 10th and youngest person to set foot on the Moon at age 36. This milestone followed an extensive career as a United States Air Force officer and test pilot, ultimately placing him among a small group of individuals who conducted extravehicular activities on the lunar terrain.
Military Formation and Early Aviation
Born in Charlotte in 1935, Duke attended Lancaster High School and Admiral Farragut Academy. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1957. Although initially commissioned into the Air Force, his path to aviation began with primary flight training in Georgia. He served as a fighter pilot with the 526th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Ramstein Air Base in West Germany. Later, he completed the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School in 1965, subsequently working as an instructor on aircraft including the F-101 Voodoo, F-104 Starfighter, and T-33 Shooting Star.
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Selected for the fifth astronaut group in April 1966, Duke began his tenure at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration with support roles. He served on the support crew for Apollo 10 and gained global recognition as the voice of Mission Control for Apollo 11, where he communicated with the crew during the landing. During Apollo 13, his exposure to rubella led to a crew reassignment. He eventually flew as the Lunar Module pilot for Apollo 16, landing at the Descartes Highlands with John Young, before serving as backup Lunar Module pilot for Apollo 17.
Retirement and Later Career
Duke retired from NASA on January 1, 1976. He transitioned into the Air Force Reserve, serving as a mobilization augmentee to the Commander of the USAF Basic Military Training Center and the USAF Recruiting Service. After graduating from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1978, he attained the rank of brigadier general in 1979. He concluded his military career in June 1986. His record includes 4,147 hours of flying time, with 265 hours logged in space, including over 21 hours of extravehicular activity.
Fast facts
- Born: 1935, Charlotte
- Military rank: Brigadier general
- Education: United States Naval Academy
- Mission: Apollo 16
- NASA Distinguished Service Medal: 1972
- Space flight duration: 265 hours
- International Space Hall of Fame: 1983
- United States Astronaut Hall of Fame: Inductee
Questions readers ask
What was Duke's role during the Apollo 11 moon landing?
He served as the CAPCOM for Mission Control, speaking directly to the crew during the lunar landing.
How many hours did Charles Duke spend in space?
He logged a total of 265 hours in space, including 21 hours and 38 minutes of extravehicular activity.
Achievements
- United States Astronaut Hall of Fame
- International Space Hall of Fame — 1983
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and Admiral Farragut Academy
- Worked as air force officer, astronaut and test pilot
