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Gene Cernan

Gene Cernan was an American astronaut who was born on March 14, 1934, in Illinois. Before he became an astronaut, Cernan was a Naval fighter pilot. He logged over 5000 hours of flight time.

Cernan became an astronaut in 1963. He has spent over 566 hours in space on 3 spaceflights.

Cernan piloted Gemini 9 in 1966. He made a record 2 hour, 10 minute spacewalk during this mission. In 1969, Cernan served as the lunar module pilot of Apollo 10. Cernan and fellow astronaut Stafford flew within 10 miles of the moon's surface.

Cernan made the last lunar landing on his third flight in 1972. Aboard the lunar module of Apollo 17, Cernan and scientist Harrison Schmitt landed on the moon and took rock samples.




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