Overnewton Anglican Community College students had an out-of-this-world experience last week when astronaut Charles “Charlie” Moss Duke junior paid a visit.
Mr Duke, the 10th and youngest astronaut to walk on the moon, and his wife had lunch with 10 senior school students at the Keilor campus on Friday before attending a special assembly for students from years 9 to 12.
Mr Duke was 36 when he became the lunar module pilot for Apollo 16, which went to the moon in April 1972. He, along with fellow astronaut John Young, spent more than 20 hours exploring the moon during their mission.
Their work involved installing scientific equipment, collecting rock and soil samples, and driving their lunar car, Rover-2, over the roughest and blockiest surface yet encountered on the moon. Mr Duke filmed the only pictures made of the rover in action.
Apollo 16 returned to a hero’s welcome, with Mr Duke and fellow astronauts receiving the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. He is presently owner of Charlie Duke Enterprises, president of Duke Investments, and chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
Overnewton principal Jim Laussen said the visit had opened students’ minds to “the countless opportunities life can hold for them, too. Meeting Charles Duke and hearing his stories of exploration was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.
