HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation is celebrating the final lunar mission with a special evening with Apollo 17 Astronaut Dr. Harrison Schmitt in the Davidson Center for Space Exploration Dec. 7. Dr. Schmitt, who also served as a U.S. Senator for New Mexico, will be the featured speaker for the evening and will share memories of being NASA’s first scientist astronaut and a member of the last Apollo crew.
Northrop Grumman is the title sponsor for the event, and Orbital ATK is the presenting sponsor. The event is nearly sold out, and the deadline to purchase tickets is Monday, Dec. 4.
Dr. Schmitt received his Ph.D. from Harvard University and studied for a year at the University of Oslo in Norway. He worked at the U.S. Geological Survey's Astrogeology Center, where he developed geological field techniques that would later be used by the Apollo crews. He joined NASA in 1965, and in March 1970, he became the first scientist to be assigned to space flight. He was scheduled to fly aboard Apollo 18, but was reassigned to Apollo 17 when the Apollo 18 launch was cancelled. He and his fellow crew members, Eugene Cernan and Ronald Evans, launched to the moon on Dec. 7, 1972.
Dr. Schmitt is the only surviving member of the Apollo 17 crew, and he, Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, David Scott, Charles Duke and John Young are the only Apollo astronauts still alive. This anniversary event will honor not only the historic 12-day Apollo 17 mission but also all the men and women who supported the Apollo program.
In addition to the ticketed evening event, Dr. Schmitt will give a Pass the Torch lecture in the Davidson Center’s National Geographic Theater at 4 p.m. At 3 p.m., prior to the talk, Dr. Schmitt will sign copies of his book “Return to the Moon: Exploration, Enterprise, and Energy in the Human Settlement of Space.” The Pass the Torch is free and open to the public, but remaining seats are limited and reservations are required. To reserve a seat, click here.
The ticketed event begins with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m. with dinner following. To purchase a ticket to the reception and dinner, please click here.
Dr. Schmitt will be available to speak to the media Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. Members of the media are also invited to cover the event. To reserve a seat, please contact Pat Ammons, Director of Communications, at [email protected]; 256-721-5429.
About U.S. Space & Rocket Center
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is home to Space Camp® and Aviation Challenge®, the Apollo 16 capsule, the National Historic Landmark Saturn V rocket and world-class traveling exhibits. USSRC is the Official Visitor Center for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and a showcase for national defense technologies developed at the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal.
To learn more about the exciting programs and activities at the USSRC, go to www.rocketcenter.com.
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About the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation
The U.S. Space & Rocket Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization raising funds and awareness to support events, programs, facilities and overall growth of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and Space Camp.