The Exclusive Club of NASA Moonwalkers: Only 12 People Have Been to the Moon

Most people are familiar with Neil Armstrong's historic lunar walk, but many are unaware that only 11 other individuals have followed in his lunar footsteps. These exclusive members of the moonwalker club have left their mark on the celestial body, and here's a closer look at who they are and the reasons behind this exclusive list.

Moonwalking and the Space Race of the '60s: A Brief Recap
Between 1967 and 1972, NASA spearheaded the ambitious Project Apollo, driven by a range of objectives beyond merely landing on the moon. The space agency aimed to develop the technology to serve national interests in space, secure a preeminent position for the United States in the realm of space exploration, carry out scientific investigations of the moon, and enhance human capability to operate in a lunar environment.

This lunar endeavor resulted in six missions successfully reaching the moon, culminating with the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. However, the subsequent path deviated from returning to the moon. A confluence of factors, including a 1973 oil crisis and the need to allocate government funds elsewhere, led to the termination of Apollo missions. NASA's priorities shifted to other space ventures, such as Skylab, the space shuttle program, and various satellite and probe missions.

The Moon's Recent Popularity
In 2018, the moon regained its prominence on the global stage as NASA unveiled plans to send humans back to its surface, with an estimated timeframe as early as 2020. Elon Musk's SpaceX also declared intentions to transport humans around the moon, rekindling lunar exploration.

A Distinguished Group of Moonwalkers
The list of moonwalkers exclusively consists of 12 American men, and each individual ventured to the moon only once. This illustrious group includes:

1. Neil Armstrong: The legendary astronaut who made history on July 20, 1969, as the commander of Apollo 11.
2. Buzz Aldrin: Accompanied Armstrong on Apollo 11 and followed him onto the lunar surface.
3. Pete Conrad: The commander of Apollo 12 in 1969 and remembered for his humorous statement upon lunar touchdown.
4. Alan Bean: Apollo 12's lunar module pilot, who later transitioned to become a visual artist.
5. Alan Shepard: Renowned as the first American in space, he commanded Apollo 14.
6. Ed Mitchell: The lunar module pilot of Apollo 14 and a well-known advocate for UFO studies.
7. David Scott: Flew on Apollo 9 and achieved lunar landing with Apollo 15 in 1971, although he faced a "postage stamp incident."
8. James Irwin: The lunar module pilot for Apollo 15, who later led expeditions to search for Noah's Ark.
9. John Young: Orbits the moon on Apollo 10 and touched down as commander of Apollo 16 in 1972. Also, he commanded the inaugural space shuttle flight in 1981.
10. Charles Duke: Joined Apollo 16 but was famous for his role as CAPCOM (capsule communicator) during the Apollo 11 mission.
11. Jack Schmitt: As Apollo 17's lunar module pilot in 1972, he was not only the first scientist on the moon but also in outer space.
12. Gene Cernan: Commander of Apollo 17, he holds the distinction of being the last person to set foot on the moon and left behind a poignant message as he departed.

The moonwalkers, an exclusive and distinguished group, have left an indelible mark on human history with their unique experiences and contributions to lunar exploration.