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Apollo 16 moonwalker reflects on mission's 50th anniversary

Charlie Duke
Posted at 9:26 AM, Apr 21, 2022
and last updated 2022-04-21 12:26:56-04

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Charlie Duke is part of a tiny fraternity that's getting even smaller: People who walked on the moon.

Duke on Wednesday visited his Apollo 16 spaceship at a space museum in Huntsville, Alabama, to mark the 50th anniversary of his one and only trip to the moon.

John Young, Thomas “Ken” Mattingly, and Duke landed on the moon on April 20.

The trio landed back on earth on April 27 after a flight of 11 days.

Only four of the 12 U.S. astronauts who walked on the moon are still alive, and Duke stays busy with speaking engagements.

Duke says he still has vivid memories from the journey, and he is looking forward to NASA's upcoming return flight to the moon with its new Space Launch System rocket that's at the core of the Artemis program.