Charles Moss Duke Collection

John Young on the lunar surface, 1972. Creator: Charles Duke
John Young on the lunar surface, 1972. Astronaut John W. Young, commander of the Apollo 16 lunar landing mission, jumps up from the lunar surface as he salutes the U.S

Orion seen from the Rover, lunar surface, 1972. Creator: Charles Duke
Orion seen from the Rover, lunar surface, 1972. The Apollo 16 Lunar Module " Orion" is photographed from a distance by astronaut Charles M. Duke Jr

Apollo 16 Command and Service Module Over the Moon, 1972. Creator: Thomas Mattingly
Apollo 16 Command and Service Module Over the Moon, 1972. In this photo, the Apollo 16 Command and Service Module (CSM) " Casper" approaches the Lunar Module (LM)

President Nixon with Dr. James Fletcher and Apollo 16 Astronauts, 1972. Creator: NASA
President Nixon with Dr. James Fletcher and Apollo 16 Astronauts, 1972. A model of the Apollo-Soyuz spacecraft with docking adapter is shown to President Richard Nixon

Apollo 16 Recovery, 1972. Creator: NASA
Apollo 16 Recovery, 1972. The Apollo 16 command module, with astronauts John W. Young, Thomas K. Mattingly II and Charles M. Duke Jr

Astronaut Charles Duke at the Descartes landing site, Apollo 16 mission, April 1972. Charles Duke collecting lunar samples on the surface of the Moon, with the Lunar Roving Vehicle

Astronaut John Young on the lunar surface, Apollo 16 mission, April 1972. Creator: Charles Duke
Astronaut John Young on the lunar surface, Apollo 16 mission, 21 April 1972. Commander John Young performing the first Apollo 16 Spacewalk at the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP)

Astronaut Charles Duke at the Descartes landing site, Apollo 16 mission, April 1972. Charles Duke collecting lunar samples on the surface of the Moon, with the Lunar Roving Vehicle

Astronauts being recovered from the sea, Apollo 16 mission, 27 April 1972. Creator: NASA
Astronauts being recovered from the sea, Apollo 16 mission, 27 April 1972. Prime recovery helicopter hovering over the Apollo 16 spacecraft after splashdown, 11 days after launch

Apollo 16 Lunar Module Orion on the lunar surface, April 21, 1972. Creator: Charles Duke
Apollo 16 Lunar Module Orion on the lunar surface, April 21, 1972. Astronaut John W. Young, commander of the Apollo 16 lunar landing mission

Apollo 16 exploration of the Moon, 1972 C018 / 3553
Apollo 16 exploration of the Moon. Panoramic image of the landing site of Apollo 16, the fifth and penultimate mission of the US Apollo space program

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Charles Moss Duke, a renowned astronaut and part of the historic Apollo 16 mission in April 1972, played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of the Moon. As captured by his lens, we witness Astronaut John Young gracefully navigating the lunar surface with awe-inspiring precision. Charles Duke's photographic talents also allowed us to marvel at the breathtaking sight of Orion from the Rover as it traversed this extraterrestrial landscape. The significance of their expedition was not lost on anyone, including President Nixon himself, who proudly posed alongside Dr. James Fletcher and the Apollo 16 astronauts. Their dedication and bravery were recognized as they embarked on this groundbreaking mission that would forever change our perception of space exploration. As their journey came to an end, Charles Duke immortalized the momentous occasion when Astronauts were recovered from the sea after completing their successful mission. The image serves as a testament to their triumph over adversity and showcases NASA's commitment to ensuring safe returns for its courageous explorers. Throughout his time on Apollo 16, Charles Duke continued capturing extraordinary moments such as Astronaut John Young's venturesome strides across the lunar surface at Descartes landing site. These photographs serve as timeless reminders of humanity's audacious spirit and unwavering determination to push beyond boundaries. With each click of his camera shutter, Charles Duke documented history in real-time – be it capturing Apollo 16 Lunar Module Orion resting serenely on the Moon or documenting every step taken during their meticulous exploration efforts. His contribution has left an indelible mark on our collective memory and continues inspiring future generations towards new frontiers yet unexplored. Charles Moss Duke cemented his place among legends through his remarkable photography skills that encapsulated both beauty and scientific discovery during one of mankind's most significant achievements - exploring another celestial body firsthand.