"Boy was I excited. The day had finally arrived - today we would walk on the Moon! The LM shades were rolled up, and the reflected sunlight was streaming in. It was a beautiful moon day, a perfect day for a moonwalk! Apollo 16 commander, John Young, was out first and as soon as he finished his speech, it was "here I come, babe!" I quickly climbed out the hatch and down the ladder and jumped on the ground. "Fantastic! That's the first foot on the lunar surface," I announced. "It's super, Tony, we're making little footprints here about one-half inch deep." It wasn't much of a speech, but I was really excited. Just imagine, I thought to myself, since the beginning of time, no human being has ever walked in this spot before.

The moon has a special beauty of its own. There is almost a purity about it - so still and pristine, unspoiled by any pollution of man. Directly over my head was the Earth, a beautiful blue and white jewel suspended in the blackness of space. Now, as I look back at the Moon, I hope that our footprints will lead the way for future explorers."

Charlie Duke
Apollo 16 LMP

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