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Home , Alan Shepard, Armstrong (crater), Borman (crater), Chaffee (crater), Ed White (astronaut), Frank Borman

Celebrating Flagstaff’s Scientific Role in the Missions

W.L. GORE & ASSOCIATES KEYNOTE PRESENTATION | SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 discoverflagstaff.com/lunarlegacy CHARLIE DUKE WELCOME FLAGSTAFF AND GUESTS!

It is indeed an honor and pleasure for me to share Flagstaff’s Lunar Legacy with residents and visitors! Flagstaff’s significant scientific role in the Apollo Moon missions contributed to perhaps the greatest achievement in human history – landing and setting foot on another world! This was only possible with years of preparation in which many milestones Coral occurred in Flagstaff. Mayor of Flagstaff Every astronaut who walked on the Moon trained right here. Important steps from local scientists, artists, engineers and cowboys all made it possible for mankind’s “giant leap.” They developed maps, landscapes and instrumentation to prepare the for successful navigation in this foreign environment. Flagstaff scientists continue to inspire all ages and advance our body of knowledge with world-class discoveries. I am so grateful to live in a place where science research and innovation are embraced and put on center stage in one of our community’s signature events, the Flagstaff Festival of Science! We celebrate Flagstaff’s lunar legends and the next generation of space pioneers. As astronaut Charlie Duke says, “The human heart is meant to explore!”

Sincerely,

COVER | Apollo 16 Lunar Module Pilot Charlie Duke salutes the standing in Coral Evans front of the Lunar Module “Orion”, , 1972. Mayor of Flagstaff Photo: NASA 1 NEIL , COMMANDER: 2019 FLAGSTAFF FESTIVAL OF SCIENCE KEYNOTE SPEAKER “, here, the Eagle has landed.” APOLLO MOON-WALKING ASTRONAUT CHARLIE DUKE CHARLIE DUKE, MISSION CONTROL CAPCOM: TAKES FLAGSTAFF TO THE MOON “Roger, Tranquility. We copy you on the ground. The 10th and youngest man to ever walk on the Moon envisions a base camp, You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. observatory and rocket launching pad on the lunar surface in the near future. “We’re We’re breathing again. Thanks a lot.” going to want to see people going and exploring more,” says Charlie Duke. The Apollo 16 astronaut was so appreciative of the scientists and community who helped him prepare for his 1972 mission that he and Commander named a Moon crater in Flagstaff’s honor. Near their Lunar Highlands landing spot is “Flag Crater,” a name that remains today. “I found Flagstaff to be one of the most interesting places that we visited to study geology. I loved the people, the Peaks and the beauty of the area.” Duke also visited and hiked the as part of his training, spending the night at Phantom Ranch. “Most of us couldn’t tell the difference between a clod of dirt and a rock,” says Duke. “But with the astrogeology branch of the USGS in Flagstaff helping us, we felt well-qualified to describe the rocks we found on the Moon and pick up the right ones. I loved all those guys!” Duke and Young practiced maneuvering a Moon buggy prototype over rough volcanic terrain and in and out of a simulated crater field north of town. Young drove while Duke navigated. “The suspension provided a lot smoother ride than we had on the FROM MISSION CONTROL CAPCOM TO MOONWALKER Moon! The practice rover on Earth was 800 to 900 pounds and a lot more stable. ABOVE | Official NASA portrait of Apollo 16 astronaut Charles M. Duke, Jr. The one on the Moon only weighed 80 pounds. The thing bounced around a lot!” LEFT | NASA astronaut Charlie Duke was involved in five Apollo missions. He says they never got lost on the lunar landscape. “If you were ever unsure, you When the Apollo 11 lunar module descended to the Moon on July 20, could just make a U-turn and follow your tracks .” 1969, Duke, the communications link between the astronauts and Mission Control, was tensely monitoring the landing as the Decades after his history-making flight, Duke has followed his own tracks back to was running out of fuel. “We were all holding our breath,” he said upon a successful landing. Photo: NASA Northern to launch the Flagstaff Festival of Science “To the Moon and Beyond” as the W. L. Gore and Associates Keynote Presenter. 2 3 “Most of us couldn’t tell the difference between a clod of dirt and a rock. But with the astrogeology branch of the USGS in Flagstaff helping us, we felt “I found Flagstaff to well-qualified to describe the rocks we be one of the most found on the Moon and pick up the interesting places right ones. I loved all those guys!” that we visited to –Charlie Duke study geology. I loved the people, the San Francisco Peaks and the beauty of the area.” –Charlie Duke

GEOLOGY FIELD TRAINING FOR APOLLO 16

ABOVE | An engineer and Charlie Duke (collecting a soil sample) during a geology field training exercise at Merriam Crater, June 1971. Photo: USGS RIGHT | An engineer and Charlie Duke (standing) climb to the simulated Lunar Module during a geology field training exercise at Merriam Crater, June 1971. Photo: USGS LEFT | Apollo 16 astronauts Charlie Duke and John Young (at the controls) testing geologic rover “Grover” at the East Street facility in Flagstaff, September 1970. Photo: USGS

4 5 FLAGSTAFF FESTIVAL OF SCIENCE: APOLLO 16 MISSION INSPIRING OTHERS TO THE MOON AND BEYOND FOR 30 YEARS FACTS AND FIGURES APOLLO 16 CREW From the depths of the Grand Canyon to famous dark skies, from the world’s largest John W. Young contiguous Ponderosa pine forest to red rock monuments, from fossil remains of ancient Commander seas and the Age of Dinosaurs to alpine tundra, from Earth’s most accessible Thomas (Ken) K. Mattingly II to a landscape dotted with volcanoes and prehistoric dwellings, it’s no wonder Northern Command Module Pilot Arizona has long been a mecca for scientific discovery. Charles (Charlie) M. Duke, Jr. Lunar Module Pilot For 30 years, the Flagstaff Festival of Science has been shining the spotlight on world-class scientific discoveries that LAUNCH TO occur here and celebrating the dedicated people, organizations and businesses behind the research and innovations. April 16-27, 1972. The lunar The award-winning festival is the longest running event of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, offering more than landing occurred on April 21. 100 free public activities each year at the end of September. In its mission to connect and inspire others–especially LANDING SITE youth–with the wonders of science and the joy of scientific discovery, the festival invites residents and visitors along Highlands on a season of science adventure into national forests, parks and monuments, laboratories, observatories, field stations “I enjoy motivating kids and audiences LUNAR ROVER VEHICLE and museums to participate one-on-one with scientists. on the benefits of space and hope we LRV-II, the second of three From this mountain town, geneticists are fighting deadly pathogens and super bugs, astronomers are looking for can encourage our country to help Rovers flown to the Moon, Earth-like planets and watching for near-Earth asteroids, foresters are studying how ecosystems can adapt to a was driven a total of 16.6 miles (26.7 km) during the mission. changing climate, elite athletes are running faster and swimming stronger, engineers and biologists are improving commit to these kinds of missions that lives with medical devices and advances on a cellular level. At 7,000 feet, Flagstaff touches the world, while cultivating are a great benefit for us. Let’s press LUNAR SURFACE ACTIVITIES the next generation of scientists, engineers, doctors and technicians. on and explore!” The crew collected rock and Thirty years ago, a small group of local scientists asked themselves, “How can we share our world with the public?” –Charlie Duke soil samples, took photos and From that meeting, a powerful festival emerged in which young people see themselves as scientists and a community performed experiments for ushers them into a future where STEM education and careers reign. 20 hours and 14 minutes. They remained on the lunar In 1990, USGS geologist Ivo Lucchitta announced, “Science is an adventure of the mind,” and Flagstaff, through the surface for a total of 71 hours. Festival of Science, responded, “Take us along on the journey.” SAMPLES COLLECTED LEFT | Apollo 16, the fifth manned lunar landing mission, launches from on April 21, 1972. Photo: NASA 209.45 lbs (95 kg) of rock and RIGHT | Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke photographs the lunar landscape standing next to LRV-II on “Stone Mountain”, . Photo: NASA soil samples were collected.

6 7 Flagstaff’s ALL APOLLO ASTRONAUTS TRAINED IN FLAGSTAFF

Lunar (1967) Gus Landmarks Ed Roger Chaffee APOLLO ASTRONAUT SCIENCE TRAINING, EQUIPMENT FIELD TESTING AND LUNAR MAPPING (1968) Donn Eisele LOWELL OBSERVATORY USGS ASTROGEOLOGY SCIENCE CENTER CINDER LAKE CRATER FIELDS lowell.edu astrogeology.usgs.gov coconinonationalforest.us (1968) Frank Lowell Observatory was founded in 1894 by Percival The Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Flagstaff’s volcanic cinder fields offered the topography Jim Lowell, who inspired millions with his tireless advocacy Science Center was established in 1963 by Eugene (Gene) to create an ideal site for astronaut field training and Bill of astronomy. In 1930, Pluto was discovered by Clyde Shoemaker to provide geologic mapping and support lunar rover vehicle simulator testing. In 1967, using (1969) Tombaugh at Lowell Observatory, and decades later, for the Apollo Moon missions. Shoemaker died in 1997 explosives, the basaltic volcanic Cinder Lake Crater Fields Jim McDivitt Apollo astronauts included Lowell Observatory in their were strategically transformed into a simulated lunar and some of his ashes were transported to the Moon by Dave Scott training to fly to the Moon. From 1961 through 1969, the Lunar Prospector mission. USGS has a rich history of landscape of craters. At Cinder Lake Training Field Test scientists and illustrators worked together at Lowell participation in planetary exploration and continues to Site 1 an area was re-created in 1:1 scale for the exact (1969) Observatory to create detailed maps of the lunar surface. play a role in almost every NASA planetary mission. The site of Apollo 11’s projected lunar landing. The crater Tom Stafford The lunar features depicted on the maps were studied Center is home to the geologic rover (“Grover”), which field testing sites are still visible today! For tour infor- John Young by geologists and Apollo astronauts. The future Moon was used to train the Apollo crews, as well as many mation and approved access visit the Flagstaff Ranger explorers also viewed the Moon directly through the other exhibits on solar system exploration. Station at 5075 Highway 89. APOLLO 11 (1969) observatory’s historic 24-inch Refractor. ASTRONAUTS WHO TRAINED HERE: All of the Apollo astronauts attended ASTRONAUTS WHO TRAINED HERE: Gene Cernan, Charlie Duke, Dick ASTRONAUTS WHO TRAINED HERE: Neil Armstrong, , geology and other studies in multiple locations throughout Flagstaff Gordon, , Jim Irwin, , Ed Mitchell, Jack Schmitt, Mike , Jim Lovell, Jim McDivitt, Elliott See, Tom Stafford, serving as either temporary USGS Center of Astrogeology headquarters Dave Scott, , John Young, as well as their back-up crews, Buzz and John Young trained at Lowell Observatory. or USGS science facilities. The permanent USGS Center of Astrogeology participated in geology studies and field training exercises at the headquarters was constructed on McMillan Mesa and dedicated in 1965. Cinder Lake Crater Fields. (1969) ABOVE | Illustrator Pat Bridges working on the original airbrush shaded Pete Conrad relief of the Moon’s Copernicus Crater, 1959. Photo: Pat Bridges ABOVE | USGS geologists (left to right) Terry Offield, Jack McCauley, ABOVE | USGS scientists Tim Hait and David Schleicher train during the Elliot Morris, George Herman (CBS Television), Howard Pohn and David first Apollo Field Test at Cinder Lake Crater Field #1 east of Flagstaff, Dick Gordon Roddy in the USGS Center of Astrogeology headquarters during Apollo 11 with simulated Lunar Module in background, October 1967. Photo: USGS mission, . Photo: USGS 8 9 ALL APOLLO ASTRONAUTS TRAINED IN FLAGSTAFF A VOLCANIC CINDER FIELD IS BLASTED INTO A LUNAR LANDSCAPE (CONTINUED) Dramatic and precisely engineered explosions created Cinder Lake Crater

APOLLO 13 (1970) Field #2, the second of two simulated lunar crater fields in Flagstaff Jim Lovell that were utilized for traverse planning, geology training and equipment testing, July 1968. Photo: USGS Fred Haise (1971) Alan Shepard Stu Roosa METEOR CRATER SUNSET CRATER VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK Ed Mitchell meteorcrater.com nps.gov/sucr nps.gov/grca (1971) Meteor Crater is the result of a collision approximately Apollo astronauts frequently utilized the topography Geology served, and continues to serve, as an important Dave Scott 50,000 years ago with energy of more than 20 million component to training for the moon missions and the Al Worden located at Sunset Crater for field training and as an Jim Irwin tons of TNT. This mile-wide site is the best preserved equipment testing site. This 900-year-old volcanic Grand Canyon is a spectacular site for this type of field meteor impact crater on Earth and proved to be a landscape consists of lava flows and cinder fields with training. Apollo astronauts experienced the Grand Canyon APOLLO 16 (1972) unique geological feature as a perfect training site for jagged basalt forming unearthly tracts of land attracting in order to familiarize themselves with the basics of geol- John Young the Apollo astronauts to prepare for landing on the NASA scientists and astronauts to train in the area. The ogy and function as observers and collectors. Historical Charlie Duke surface of the Moon. Meteor Crater offers an interactive future space travelers engaged in geological survey and photos include Neil Armstrong carrying a rock hammer, educational experience featuring indoor/outdoor crater a hand lens and a backpack for rock samples as well as (1972) sampling techniques, camera equipment testing and viewing areas, crater trails, guided tours, 4D ride, wide- riding a mule along the trails in the Canyon. The year, Gene Cernan lunar rover experimenting. The purpose was to give the Ron Evans screen theater, gift shop, artifacts, displays and exhibits. astronauts a feel for the situations they would face on 2019, celebrates the centennial of the Grand Canyon Jack Schmitt Meteor Crater is located 42 miles east of Flagstaff off the moon as well as an appreciation of the geological National Park, the 50th Anniversary of the first moon Interstate 40 at exit 233. features which mimic the surface of the Moon. landing and the 30th Anniversary of the Flagstaff Festival LEFT | Actual lunar crater of Science. field image of the Apollo ASTRONAUTS WHO TRAINED HERE: All of the Apollo astronauts and ASTRONAUTS WHO TRAINED HERE: All of the Apollo astronauts and 11 landing site taken by a Lunar Orbiter. Photo: NASA their back-up crews participated in geology studies and field training their back-up crews participated in geology studies and field training ASTRONAUTS WHO TRAINED HERE: All of the Apollo astronauts and exercises at Meteor Crater. exercises at Sunset Crater and the surrounding area. their back-up crews, with the exception of astronaut/geologist Jack RIGHT | Aerial view of ABOVE | Geologist Gene Shoemaker describing the geology of Meteor ABOVE | USGS scientist Gordon Swann testing photography equipment Schmitt, participated in geology studies and field training exercises at simulated lunar crater the Grand Canyon. Crater to a large group of astronauts during a training field trip, May while wearing a Gemini suit during field training exercises at Bonita fields at Crater Field #2, 1967. Photo: USGS Lava Flow in Sunset Crater National Monument, June 1964. Photo: USGS ABOVE | Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong studies the geology of the July 1968. Photo: USGS Grand Canyon during a field training exercise, March 1964. Photo: USGS 10 11 “We are going LOWELL OBSERVATORY | USGS ASTROGEOLOGY SCIENCE CENTER | NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY | US NAVAL OBSERVATORY FLAGSTAFF STATION to want to see PLANETARY RESEARCH AND TRAINING IN FLAGSTAFF TODAY people going into space more. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center and Lowell Observatory continue the legacy of the to this day. USGS works closely with the National and Space Administration (NASA) The human to maximize the science and Lowell Observatory’s rich history of planetary research carries on and into the future. heart is meant to explore.” Lowell astronomers are recognized leaders in the study of planets, comets, asteroids and other solar system bodies. Some are key members of space missions such as the New Horizons flyby –Charlie Duke of Pluto. Others use state-of-the-art laboratory facilities to replicate conditions on distant worlds. Still others explore ’s watery past or search for planets around other stars. These and other efforts by Lowell astronomers are helping to advance our knowledge of planetary systems near and far.

USGS works with NASA to train the current class of astronauts on Earth and planetary science, visiting many of the same geologic features here in northern Arizona and elsewhere that the Apollo astronauts visited 50 years ago. Since the Apollo era, USGS Astrogeology has been involved in nearly every NASA mission to a solid planetary body. From the pre-launch development of instruments and mission requirements, to active participation in mission operations and scientific research, to archiving data and producing high-quality data products, USGS Astrogeology plays a vital role in the success of NASA’s planetary missions. USGS Astrogeology also specializes in creating accurate topography of other planets based on images. This expertise has been applied to data ranging from the photographs taken on the Apollo missions to the extremely high resolution orbital images currently being returned from the Moon and Mars by active missions. Due to the reliability and accuracy of topography produced by USGS Astrogeology, the data plays a vital role in choosing safe and scientifically interesting landing sites for NASA landers and rovers. The upcoming Mars 2020 rover mission will carry images and topographic data produced by USGS Astrogeology to enable it to autonomously avoid hazards during landing. Lowell Observatory and USGS Astrogeology Science Center remain at the forefront of planetary exploration, in addition to research at Northern Arizona University and the US Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station. Who knows what wonders await in the next 50 years?

LEFT | NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover takes a selfie on May 12, 2019. Photo: NASA 12