Announcing the winner of the Museum’s 2027 Michael Collins Trophy for Lifetime Achievement: Apollo astronaut Charlie Duke! Gen. Charles M. “Charlie” Duke is one of the most accomplished astronauts of the Apollo era and continues to be a powerful advocate for human space exploration and scientific discovery. Duke served as a fighter pilot and aerospace engineer before walking on the Moon during Apollo 16.
An astronaut in a white space suit stands in front of an American flag and a neutral background, smiling while resting hands on a moon globe. The suit displays a NASA logo.

ALT An astronaut in a white space suit stands in front of an American flag and a neutral background, smiling while resting hands on a moon globe. The suit displays a NASA logo.

An astronaut stands on the lunar surface during an Apollo mission to the Moon. He is standing near a lunar module and an American flag, with the barren, cratered landscape of the Moon visible.

ALT An astronaut stands on the lunar surface during an Apollo mission to the Moon. He is standing near a lunar module and an American flag, with the barren, cratered landscape of the Moon visible.

Nov 10, 2026 · 3:13 PM UTC

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Congrats @Cmd16Duke! Great seeing you this weekend.
Image from MoonDAO 🌜🌐🌛 (@OfficialMoonDAO)
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Deceiver.
Image from Q (@ResonanceEnter1)
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apollo 11 capcom, then the moon himself. well earned
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He's still up there, in a way. In April 1972 Duke left a shrink-wrapped photo of his family on the lunar surface. On the back: "This is the family of Astronaut Duke from Planet Earth. Landed on the Moon, April 1972," signed by his wife and sons.
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Explorers Club 2014
Image from Richard Easton (@RDEIL)
Image from Richard Easton (@RDEIL)
Image from Richard Easton (@RDEIL)
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🚀👏
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Such a fitting honor. Charlie Duke was the CAPCOM voice for the Apollo 11 landing, then became the tenth and youngest moonwalker on Apollo 16, leaving a family photo on the lunar surface.
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Charlie Duke is an incredible choice—his Apollo 16 story never gets old. What a legacy to celebrate!
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Respect! 🫡
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Scientific discovery ? He's a "young earth creationist "...... what a joke.
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He's a great actornaut. He should get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame like the Apollo 11 actors.
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I hope the link plays the video with JFK speaking during an epic slow motion launch. charlieduke.com/#anniversary…
Charlie Duke, Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 16, 10th man on the moon.

Charlie Duke, Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 16, 10th man on the moon.

Astronaut Duke served on 5 different Apollo missions including as CAPCOM for Apollo 11 and as the Lunar Module pilot on Apollo 16.

charlieduke.com
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You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue....
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Terrific choice 👏🏼
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Stud.
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Well deserved! he's a legend.
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👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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Congratulations
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Hometown Hero
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When there is a full moon, you can walk along and clearly see your shadow—but when you are on the moon, what casts your shadow?
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