posted 06-20-2019 07:09 AM               

Northrop Grumman and Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Dedicate New Statue of The Honorable Harrison H. Schmitt

Work of Art Depicting Apollo 17 Astronaut and Former United States Senator Installed at Apollo/Saturn V Center

In a ceremony held earlier today [June 19], Northrop Grumman Corporation, in partnership with Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, honored Apollo 17 astronaut and former United States Senator Harrison H. Schmitt, Ph.D. with the dedication of a larger than life sculpture as he walked on the Moon in December 1972. In addition to honoring the 400,000 Americans who made Apollo an historic success, the statue commemorates Schmitt's contributions to science and space exploration throughout a career that lasted more than 50 years. He is one of four living astronauts to have walked on the Moon.

Above: Therrin Protze, chief operating officer of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Dr. Harrison H. Schmitt, Apollo 17 astronaut and former U. S. Senator from New Mexico at the June 18, 2019 statue dedication ceremony held at the Apollo/Saturn V Center. (KSCVC)

"Exploring a Valley on the Moon," designed and created by distinguished sculptor Tom Bollinger, was dedicated at the Apollo/Saturn V Center. In addition to Dr. Schmitt, esteemed speakers at the ceremony included Blake Larson, president, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems; Janet Petro, deputy director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center; and David W. Thompson, co-founder and former CEO, Orbital ATK.

"In my wildest imagination, I never fathomed that the nerdy kid growing up on 80 acres in the rural American West would find himself traveling through the Universe on that Saturn V beast, with the mission to explore the deep Valley of Taurus Littrow in the foreign landscape of the Moon orbiting my home planet, Earth," Schmitt said. "It's quite humbling to be honored with this extraordinary bronze work of art that sits in the shadow of pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center, where it all culminated for the Apollo program. Here, hundreds of thousands of American men and women accomplished President John F. Kennedy's challenge of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth."

The stunning bronze and granite statue depicts a space-suited Schmitt standing on the Moon next to a waving American flag, a recreation of an actual photo of him during Apollo 17's first extravehicular activity. Guests of the Apollo/Saturn V Center will have the opportunity to learn more about Dr. Schmitt via an informational plaque at the statue's base.

"Dr. Schmitt was an instrumental member of the Orbital ATK Board of Directors for over 30 years, until the company's acquisition by Northrop Grumman last year," said Blake Larson, president, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems. "We were very fortunate to have him help guide our decisions and contributions to the aerospace and defense industries. This is a very fitting tribute to one of NASA's brightest stars."

In December 1972, as one of the crew on board Apollo 17, Schmitt became a member of NASA's first scientist-astronaut group to fly in space. As Apollo 17 was the last of the Apollo missions, he also became the 12th person to set foot on the Moon. Schmitt also remains the first and only professional scientist to have flown beyond low Earth orbit and to have visited the Moon. He was influential within the community of geologists supporting the Apollo program and, before starting his own preparations for an Apollo mission, had developed the geological training program for Apollo 13 – 17, as well as being one of the scientists training those Apollo astronauts chosen to explore the lunar surface. Schmitt resigned from NASA in August 1975 in order to run for and win election to the United States Senate, representing the State of New Mexico.

"We are grateful to Northrop Grumman for bringing this commemorative statue to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex as we prepare to mark one of the most important anniversaries in the history of the United States space program," said Therrin Protze, chief operating officer, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. "Dr. Schmitt is an early pioneer that forever changed the history of space exploration and this statue is a perfect tribute to him."

From launch to landing, Northrop Grumman heritage companies played many vital roles in the Apollo Program. Thiokol provided vital propellant for rocket engines for each Apollo Saturn V launch. Grumman Corporation led the design, assembly, integration and test of the Lunar Modules. TRW built the descent engine that helped every crew land on the Moon as well as the Abort Guidance System for the Lunar Modules. Westinghouse cameras captured these historic events, and at the end of every mission, the Earth-landing system built by Northrop delivered each crew home safely.