Dr. Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt, the 12th Person to Walk on the Moon

Dr. Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt, the 12th Person to Walk on the Moon!

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Dr. Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt, the 12th Person to Walk on the Moon!

In the blink of an eye, we encounter beauty. Welcome to our update!

Recently, we watched "Alien: Covenant," where the crew of the starship Covenant travels to a distant planet, initially thought to be an unexplored paradise, only to find a dark and dangerous world. This makes us wonder: what about the Moon? A celestial body so close to us, yet only visited 12 times. What stories does it hold? Listen as Dr. Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt shares his experiences at the FooYoung Mineral Gem Museum.

（Before the article properly begins, the editor feels it's necessary to formally introduce this distinguished guest of FooYoung.)

Dr. Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt

Dr. Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt (born July 3, 1935) is a geologist, astronaut, and former US Senator. Most importantly, he was the twelfth person to set foot on the Moon!

He graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 1957, then studied geology at the University of Oslo, Norway for a year. He earned his PhD in geology from Harvard University in 1964.

Before being selected by NASA in June 1965 as part of the first group of scientist-astronauts, Harrison worked at the U.S. Geological Survey's Astrogeology Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, developing geological field techniques for Apollo astronauts. After his selection, he played a key role in astronaut training, teaching them to describe the lunar surface from a geologist's perspective while in orbit and to accurately select samples on the Moon. After each mission, he participated in the examination and evaluation of the collected samples, assisting the moonwalkers with the scientific portions of their mission reports.

Dr. Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt conducting exploration on the lunar surface.

Many are familiar with the WeChat startup image: a solitary figure facing a giant Earth. The Earth in the picture is shrouded in clouds, revealing only part of its features. Where is it? Who took the photo? FooYoung has the answers: the official designation of this image is AS17-148-22727, popularly known as "The Blue Marble." It was taken on December 7, 1972, by astronaut Dr. Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt – the same Harrison in the photo above with Chairman Zhang Jun! This photo is exceptionally rare because Apollo 17 was the final Apollo lunar mission. Since then, no human spacecraft has returned to that distance to photograph Earth. Many images of Earth we see today are composites, not actual photographs from space.

You might recall the Chenzhou exhibition a month ago. On the 19th, the Space Pavilion was bustling with crowds, everyone eager to shake hands, chat, and take photos with Dr. Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt.

In late May 2017, Dr. Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt and his wife, along with Mr. Robert Lavinsky, President of The Arkenstone (International Minerals), and Dr. Eugene "Gene" Meieran, accepted FooYoung Chairman Zhang Jun's invitation to visit China. They toured the FooYoung Mineral Gem Museum and experienced the unique charm of the ancient capital, Xi'an.

(Dr. Eugene Meieran is a seasoned mineral collector with a PhD in Materials Science from MIT, who long researched semiconductors, published over 60 papers, and won three international research awards. Before retirement, he was a Senior Intel Fellow, having worked on vehicle computers for astronauts in space. He is also a member of the US National Academy of Engineering.)

Upon arriving at the FooYoung museum, they were pleasantly surprised to see congratulatory messages for the museum's establishment at the entrance. The messages from Robert Lavinsky and Eugene Meieran, congratulating FooYoung on its founding, felt as vivid as if they were written yesterday, yet five years had already passed. This is a story of international friendship and a reunion across time.

Then, accompanied and guided by Chairman Zhang Jun, they toured the FooYoung Mineral Gem Museum. The richness and exquisite quality of the collection – over 130 mineral varieties and more than 1500 specimens – left everyone in awe.

They noticed a book on Mr. Zhang's shelf – "American Mineral Treasures." The foreword of this book was written by Dr. Schmitt, and the afterword was penned by Dr. Meieran.

Dr. Schmitt gladly and proactively signed the title page of this book. It's important to note that he is an astronaut who walked on the Moon. Even in the US, very few people have his signature, as celebrities often avoid having their signatures commercialized or auctioned.

The group also visited the "Pin Shi Xuan" of renowned domestic collector Wang Yadong.

Everyone took photos with Harrison, asking about his incredible experience of landing on the Moon. He shared: "During liftoff, I felt significant weightlessness, a sensation like floating in water; I was drifting inside the capsule. After a few minutes, the feeling of weightlessness lessened, and I saw the vast oceans, clouds, and continents beneath us. The rocket was traveling at 18,000 miles per hour. Gradually, the entire Earth came into view, like blue and white marble. Slowly, I made out South America, Africa, the Indian Ocean, and the South China Sea. Over three days, the view of Earth constantly changed. As we approached the Moon, it grew darker outside, and a completely dark, lightless disk appeared before me, blocking out many stars in the universe. Later, we entered lunar orbit and witnessed a breathtaking sunrise and the aurora borealis. The aurora first appeared as two extremely bright bands on the lunar horizon. Minutes later, the sun leaped out. Immediately after, I saw the Earth rise as well. It was a moment I will never forget; my companion and I were stunned. It took a long time before we remembered the arduous task awaiting us." Harrison said, "In my eyes, those rocks were all treasures."

[A Mysterious Gift]

FooYoung Chairman Zhang Jun presented a calligraphy work to Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt, a surprise Harrison was unaware of at that moment. Indeed, the best gifts are not only exquisite and thoughtful but also unexpected, maintaining a sense of mystery!

Mount Hua (Hua Shan), one of China's famous Five Great Mountains, stands south of the Qinling Range and overlooks the Yellow and Wei Rivers to the north. It has been known since ancient times as "the number one precipitous mountain under heaven." More importantly, it is a cradle of Chinese civilization; the "Hua" in "Zhonghua" (China) and "Huaxia" (ancient Chinese civilization) originates from Hua Shan. Therefore, FooYoung felt duty-bound, as hosts, to take everyone to experience it.

Eugene and Harrison discussed the geological features of Mount Hua, agreeing it is a fault-block mountain formed by crustal fractures, composed mainly of highly weathering-resistant granite.

Tourists recognized Harrison with surprise and asked to take photos with him.

The journey involved much climbing through mist-shrouded, serene green mountains, amidst dense ancient cypresses and lush vegetation. Every spot was a picturesque scene, and the scenery ahead was the reason to keep climbing.

The group finally reached the summit. Eugene and Mr. Robert gave thumbs up, smiling like victors after a legendary martial arts contest on Mount Hua!

This trip to the ancient capital of Chang'an for the foreign guests was not only an exchange between FooYoung Mineral Gem Museum and American friends but also a collision of Sino-American mineral perspectives and a communication of Chinese and Western cultures. FooYoung will continue to dedicate itself to the development of the mineral and gem enterprise, building on its foundation, strengthening exchanges, and presenting a beautiful business card engraved with the history of Chinese mineral development on the international mineral platform. Stay tuned for more!

Dr. Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt, the 12th Person to Walk on the Moon!

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Dr. Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt, the 12th Person to Walk on the Moon!

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