Since humans first landed on the Moon in 1969, only a handful of people have had the privilege of walking on its surface. Despite decades of space exploration, just 12 astronauts have set foot on the Moon, and all of them were part of NASA’s Apollo missions between 1969 and 1972. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Neil Armstrong (Apollo 11)
Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969. His famous words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” remain one of the most iconic quotes in history. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11)
Buzz Aldrin followed Armstrong onto the lunar surface just minutes later, becoming the second person to walk on the Moon. Together, they spent over two hours conducting experiments and collecting lunar samples. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Charles “Pete” Conrad (Apollo 12)
Pete Conrad became the third moonwalker in November 1969. Apollo 12 successfully landed near the Surveyor 3 spacecraft, allowing astronauts to examine equipment that had been on the Moon for years. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Alan Bean (Apollo 12)
Alan Bean was the fourth astronaut to walk on the Moon. After retiring from NASA, he became a well-known artist, creating paintings inspired by his lunar experience. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Alan Shepard (Apollo 14)
America’s first astronaut in space later became the fifth person to walk on the Moon in 1971. He is also remembered for hitting two golf balls on the lunar surface. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Edgar Mitchell (Apollo 14)
Edgar Mitchell became the sixth moonwalker and spent over nine hours exploring the Moon alongside Shepard. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
David Scott (Apollo 15)
David Scott commanded Apollo 15, the first mission to use the Lunar Roving Vehicle, allowing astronauts to travel farther across the Moon. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
James Irwin (Apollo 15)
James Irwin became the eighth person to walk on the Moon and helped conduct extensive scientific experiments during the mission. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
John Young (Apollo 16)
John Young was the ninth moonwalker and one of NASA’s most experienced astronauts, flying six space missions during his career. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Charles Duke (Apollo 16)
At just 36 years old, Charles Duke became the youngest person to walk on the Moon, a record he still holds today. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Eugene Cernan (Apollo 17)
Eugene Cernan was the 11th person to walk on the Moon and, importantly, the last person to leave its surface. His footprints remain there to this day. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17)
Harrison Schmitt was the 12th and most recent person to walk on the Moon. He was also the only professional geologist to visit the lunar surface, making valuable scientific discoveries. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
