1935-

American geologist and astronaut who was the first scientist-astronaut in space and who landed on the Moon during Apollo 17 (1972), the last space flight to the Moon. Dr. Schmitt worked as a geologist until NASA selected him in June 1965 in its first group of scientist-astronauts. He attended a flight training course to gain pilot's wings before training for his lunar mission. Schmitt served as a U.S. Senator for his home state of New Mexico from 1976 to 1983.