Charlie Duke

Charlie Duke was born in Charlotte, NC, in 1935. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Duke was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force, where he developed a profound passion for flying. Encouraged by Chuck Yeager, Duke joined the Apollo astronaut program. His crowning achievement came on April 20, 1972, when he, along with John Young, landed on the surface of the moon during the Apollo 16 mission. They set a record for the longest moonwalk, spending 71 hours and 14 minutes on the lunar surface.

During the Apollo 16 mission, Duke and Young conducted extensive lunar exploration, setting up scientific experiments, collecting 213 pounds of rock and soil samples, and testing the capabilities of Rover-2. Duke was responsible for filming the lunar rover in action as it traversed the moon's challenging terrain at speeds up to 17 kilometers per hour. On the return journey to Earth, Duke performed a memorable spacewalk alongside crew member Ken Mattingly, marveling at the views of both a full moon and a crescent Earth.

Upon returning, Duke and his fellow astronauts were awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal for their contributions. After retiring from NASA in 1975, Duke embarked on various business ventures. He founded Duke Investments and took on leadership roles in real estate and as president of several companies. Additionally, Duke has produced two space videos and remains an influential figure in space education and advocacy. He is the past chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and was appointed to the NASA Advisory Council. His experiences as an astronaut have also made him a sought-after keynote and motivational speaker.

Charlie Duke continues to contribute to both the space community and business sectors. His journey from the skies above to the surface of the moon and into the boardroom illustrates a lifelong commitment to exploration, leadership, and education.