First scientist to walk on moon shares discoveries with students
One of 12 men to have ever walked on the moon came to Utah State University and shared his experience with an audience of students and faculty Tuesday.
Harrison Schmitt spoke to a room filled to capacity about his experiences as the first non-astronaut to walk on the moon. Schmitt is a geologist who was sent to the moon on Apollo 17 in December of 1972. He was cross-trained as a pilot, so he was able to help the astronauts in flight. Once they had landed, Schmitt performed his duties as a geologist, conducting experiments on the moon.
Schmitt trained for 15 months to be ready for his expedition. The trip lasted 13 days and Schmitt was able to spend a total of 75 hours on the moon.
As the first and only scientist to have visited the moon, Schmitt said he felt some pressure of the responsibility, but knew he had to “get the job done.” While on the moon, he was able to take samples of an orange soil that originated from the deep interior. Schmitt said the soil “gives increasing insight into the origin of the moon.”
After showing a film compilation and slide shows of his mission, Schmitt fielded questions from the audience. Schmitt was asked if he would ever go back if he had the chance, to which he responded, “I’d love to go back.”
The expedition was “a two-week adrenaline rush,” Schmitt said. “The food was quite good.”
Schmitt said he and the other astronauts took turns sleeping, to make sure nothing went wrong with any of the equipment. The sleeping conditions were very comfortable, Schmitt said.
“One-sixth gravity is light sleeping,” he said.
Schmitt received his doctorate from Harvard, was trained as an Air Force and Navy pilot and oversaw the final preparation of the Apollo 11 final descent stage.
-scottsj@cc.usu.edu