Charles Duke

Lore & Background

Charles Moss Duke Jr. was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 3, 1935, the son of an insurance salesman and a buyer for Best & Co. He was followed six minutes later by his identical twin brother William. After his father served in the Navy during World War II, the family moved several times before settling in Lancaster, South Carolina. Duke earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1946 and attended Lancaster High School. He graduated from Admiral Farragut Academy as valedictorian and president of the senior class in 1953, then entered the United States Naval Academy, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in naval sciences in 1957 and commissioning as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.

Duke completed primary flight training at Spence Air Force Base and advanced training on the F-86 Sabre at Moody Air Force Base, where he was a distinguished graduate. He served three years as a fighter pilot with the 526th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Ramstein Air Base in West Germany. After graduating from the Aerospace Research Pilot School in September 1965, he became an instructor. In April 1966, he was selected for NASA's fifth astronaut group. He served on the support crew for Apollo 10 and as CAPCOM for Apollo 11, where his Southern drawl became familiar worldwide. Duke was backup Lunar Module pilot on Apollo 13; he inadvertently exposed the prime crew to rubella, leading to Ken Mattingly's replacement. On Apollo 16, Duke and John Young landed at the Descartes Highlands and conducted three EVAs. He retired from NASA on January 1, 1976.

After NASA, Duke entered the Air Force Reserve, serving as a mobilization augmentee. He graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1978, was promoted to brigadier general in 1979, and retired in June 1986. He logged 4,147 hours' flying time, including 265 hours in space and 21 hours 38 minutes of EVA.

Reader's Guide

Charles Duke's significance lies in his role as the tenth and youngest person to walk on the Moon, a milestone achieved during Apollo 16 in 1972. His career as a test pilot and astronaut exemplifies the transition from military aviation to space exploration. Duke's service as CAPCOM for Apollo 11 placed him at the center of one of humanity's most historic moments, and his inadvertent exposure of the Apollo 13 prime crew to rubella led to a key crew change that affected the mission's dynamics. His later career in the Air Force Reserve and his status as one of only four surviving Moon walkers underscore his lasting legacy in spaceflight history.

Did You Know?

• Duke is the youngest person to walk on the Moon, at age 36 years and 201 days.
• He served as CAPCOM for Apollo 11 and his Southern drawl became familiar worldwide.
• Duke inadvertently exposed the Apollo 13 prime crew to rubella, causing Ken Mattingly to be replaced.
• He is one of four surviving Moon walkers, along with David Scott, Buzz Aldrin, and Harrison Schmitt.