Gene Cernan (March 14, 1934 - January 16, 2017) was an American naval aviator, astronaut, and the commander of Apollo 17, the last human to walk on the Moon. He flew three space missions: Gemini 9A, Apollo 10, and Apollo 17. Known for his exceptional piloting skills and contributions to space exploration, Cernan left his footprints on the lunar surface, symbolizing humanity's final steps on the Moon during the Apollo era.