HONORABLE HARRISON H. SCHMITT

NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)

PERSONAL DATA: Harrison Hagan Schmitt was born July 3, 1935, in Santa Rita, 

New Mexico. Schmitt currently lives with his family in the Intermountain West.

EDUCATION: Schmitt received a Bachelor of Science degree in science from the 

California Institute of Technology in 1957; studied as a Fulbright Fellow at the 

University of Oslo in Norway from 1957 to 1958; received a doctorate in geology from 

Harvard University in 1964, based on geological work in western Norway.

SPECIAL HONORS: Schmitt has received NASA Distinguished Public Service 

Medal (1982) and its NASA Distinguished Service Medal (1973) as well as nine 

Honorary Doctorates from United States and foreign universities. In 2011, the American 

Geological Institute awarded Schmitt its Ian Campbell medal, and, in 2010, the 

Aerospace Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers awarded him its 

inaugural Columbia Medal.

Schmitt also recently received the Royal Canadian Geographical Society 2019 Gold Medal. 

In recognition of Schmitt’s past service, the United States Department of State in July 2003 established the Harrison H. Schmitt 

Leadership Award for Fulbright Fellowship awardees serving in the United States Military. 

Additional awards include the following; Fulbright Fellowship in Norway (1957 to 1958); Johnson Space Center Superior 

Achievement Award (1970); California Institute of Technology’s Fairchild Fellow (1973-1974) and Distinguished Graduate 

designation (1973); Honorary Fellow of the Geological Society of America and the American Association of Petroleum 

Geologists (1973); United States Government’s Arthur S. Fleming Award (1973); Republic of Senegal's National Order of the 

Lion (1973); Honorary Member of Norwegian Geographical Society (1973); Honorary Fellow of The Geological Society of

London (1974); and inductee in the International Space Hall of Fame (1977) and the Astronaut Hall of Fame (1997).

EXPERIENCE: In 1957, Schmitt began geological fieldwork on the west coast of Norway, returning there in 1960 to work in 

that region for the Norwegian Geological Survey.

Schmitt also worked in the field for the United States Geological Survey in New Mexico, Arizona and Montana. He was with the 

U.S. Geological Survey's Astrogeology Branch in Flagstaff, Arizona in 1964-1965, serving as Project Chief for Lunar Field 

Geological Methods on contract to NASA.

He also was responsible for a lunar photographic and telescopic mapping project and for instructing NASA astronauts during 

their early geological training trips. 

NASA EXPERIENCE: Dr. Schmitt was selected in Astronaut Group 4 as a scientist-astronaut in June 1965. 

As a civilian, Schmitt complete jet and helicopter flight training at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona and at the Pensacola Naval 

Air Station, Florida. He logged more than 2,100 hours flying time including 1,600 hours in jet aircraft (primarily T-38 Talon) 

and 210 hours in helicopters (H-13). 

During the period of his general preparation for space flight, Schmitt assisted in the integration of operational and scientific 

activities into the Apollo lunar missions, as well as the planning for lunar orbit and surface operations for Apollo missions 8-13. 

These responsibilities included the design and oversight of the of an upgraded geological training program for Apollo missions 

13-17.

- more -

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Biographical Data

 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

 Houston, Texas 77058
Schmitt was designated as the Mission Scientist in support of Apollo 11 and, in early 1970, he was assigned as the Backup

Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 15 that few to the Moon in July 1971.

In August 1971, Schmitt was assigned as Lunar Module Pilot for the Apollo 17 mission. Apollo 17 launched at 12:33 p.m.

(EST), December 7, 1972, and splashed down in the Pacific on December 19, 1972, having completed three days of geological 

and geophysical exploration in the valley of Taurus-Littrow on the Moon.

Schmitt is the first scientist and twelfth and last person to step on the Moon. This last Apollo mission to the Moon broke

several records set by previous flights, including: longest manned lunar landing flight (301 hours, 51 minutes); longest total

lunar surface extravehicular activities (22 hours, 4 minutes); longest distance traveled in the Lunar Roving Vehicle (35 km);

largest lunar sample return (an estimated 115 Kg, 249 lb); and longest time in lunar orbit (147 hours, 48 minutes).

POST-APOLLO 17 CAREER: In February 1973, Schmitt assumed additional duties for NASA as Chief of ScientistAstronauts, assisting in the definition of crew responsibilities for space operations during future Space Shuttle missions.

Dr. Schmitt was appointed NASA Assistant Administrator for Energy Programs in January 1974, serving until late 1975 when 

he left NASA to run for election to the United States Senate from New Mexico.

Elected to the Senate in 1976, Schmitt served for six years. After leaving the Senate in 1983, Schmitt served on President

Reagan’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, President Bush 41’s Commission on Ethics Law Reform, the Army Science

Board, the Department of Interior’s Strategic Minerals Advisory Board, and other federal advisory entities and delegations to

international meetings and elections.

Schmitt became a consultant to the Fusion Technology Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1986, advising on

the economic geology of lunar resources, eventually teaching in the course “Resources from Space” from 1996-2004. He

remains an Associate Fellow of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin.

During NASA’s Constellation Program, Harrison Schmitt became chairman of the NASA Advisory Council in November

2005 and served until October 2008. From 2017 to 2022 he has served as a member of the National Space Council’s User

Advisory Board.

Dr. Schmitt is a prolific writer, having been published in many diverse venues, including Science Magazine, Icraus, The Wall 

Street Journal, and the National Geographic Magazine. In 2006, Springer published his book, “Return to the Moon,” outlining 

a private sector approach to accessing lunar helium-3 for fusion power, medical diagnosis, and other applications. He also 

electronically publishes an annotated and illustrated version of the voice transcript from the Apollo 17 mission.

Active in the private aerospace business sector, Schmitt was a Director of the Orbital ATK Corporation and its predecessor

company, Orbital Sciences Corporation (1983-2018). In 1990, he joined the Board of Directors of the Draper Laboratory, and,

as a retired Director, he continues as an Emeritus Member of the Corporation that oversees the Laboratory.

Dr. Schmitt continues to synthesize scientific data related to his exploration of Taurus-Littrow, including participation in

NASA’s “Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis” (ANGSA) Program, as well as consulting with NASA and private

entities on issues involved with NASA’s Artemis Program to return to the Moon.

July 2022

This is the only version available from NASA. Updates must be sought direct from the above named individual.