Died Eugene Cernan, the last astrounauta in walking on the Moon – Vanguardia Liberal

The astronaut Eugene Cernan, the last man to set foot on the Moon, died this Monday at age 82, reported NASA.

Cernan was the commander of the spaceship Apollo 17, which was his third space flight, and the last manned mission to the united States to the Moon in December 1972.

“We are saddened by the loss of the astronaut retired from NASA, Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the Moon,” said the u.s. space agency on Twitter.

according To a statement from the family released by NASA, Cernan, a Navy officer retired, died due to complications of health.

“it Is with great sadness that we share the starting of our dear husband and father,” wrote the family.

“Our family is devastated, of course, and we really appreciate the thoughts and prayers of all. Gene, as he was known by many, was a husband, father, grandfather, brother and loving friend,” added the statement.

“Even with 82 years, Gene was sharing with passion his desire to see the continued human exploration of space and encouraging the leaders of our nation and to the youth not to allow him to continue to be the last man to walk on the Moon”.

‘Ad Astra’

The space community immediately honored Cernan via Twitter.

“Saddened by the loss of the pioneer, navy aviator, astronaut and friend #RIP #lastmanonthemoon,” wrote the american astronaut retired Scott Kelly.

“Ad Astra, Gene,” tweeted the NASA Space Center Kennedy, using the Latin expression that means “to the stars”.

“we Regret the loss of our friend Gene Cernan, the last man of the moon and a hero for years”, reported the National Museum of the Air the Smithsonian. “Good luck at the command of Apollo 17.”

“Everything has three dimensions when you look at the Earth in all its splendor, in all its glory, blue, multicolored oceans and white for the snow and the clouds,” said the astronaut after his last mission in 2007 in an interview with NASA.

“I’d like you to remember that the challenge of the united States of today has forged the fate of many men of tomorrow,” he said when he left the moon for the last time.

Cernan retired from the Navy and NASA in 1976, and went on to work in the private sector and as a television commentator on flights of space vehicles.

In 2016, premiered “The last man on the moon”, a documentary about his life.

His death comes a month after another legend of the space: John Glenn, the first american who orbited the Earth. In December, Glenn was the last of seven astronauts who led the first united States ‘ space program, in 1959, to his death.

“Truly, the united States has lost a patriot and a pioneer who contributed to giving shape to big ambitions aimed to do things that the human race had never done before,” said NASA administrator Charles Bolden on Cernan.

The astronaut left his wife Jan, a daughter, two stepchildren and nine grandchildren, said the family.