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Former NASA astronaut Charlie Duke (Picture courtesy of NASA).

An audience with Apollo 16 Astronaut Charlie Duke – Friday 20 November

10th Man to walk on the moon to lecture at the University of Leicester in a filled-to-capacity public event

Former NASA astronaut, Charlie Duke Jnr will be delivering a public lecture at the University of Leicester on Friday 20 November in a filled-to-capacity event.

In 1972, the Apollo 16 astronaut became the 10th man to walk on the moon and he will be recounting his amazing experience to members of the public in ‘An Audience with Charlie Duke’ at 6.30pm in the David Wilson Library Lecture Theatre.

This is the former astronaut’s first visit to the University as a part of a joint STEMNET/NSC Space Academy/University of Leicester event. As well as becoming the youngest man ever to walk on the moon during Apollo 16 as a Lunar Module Pilot, Duke was also a member of the support crew for Apollo 11, and a backup Lunar Module Pilot in Apollo 13 and 17.

Charlie will be speaking about his Apollo missions, how his STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills helped him in his role and how he is able to encourage and inspire young people to reach their goals and beyond.

Outreach Officer from the Physics and Astronomy Department, Dr Tracey Dickens, said:

“2009 is the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo moon landings and so it is an honour to hear from one of the 12 Apollo astronauts who set foot on the surface of the moon.

“Not many people get to here firsthand about the race to the moon and what it was like to sit in a Saturn V rocket and the lunar module and then to experience the thrill of setting foot on the moon.”

Charlie Duke Jnr will be speaking at the David Wilson Library Lecture Theatre, University of Leicester on Friday 20 November at 6.30pm. Please note that this event is now full.

Note to Newsdesks:

For further details, contact Sue Howell e-mail: skh14@le.ac.uk, telephone 0116 252 3497.

Amy Cory