Member-only story

The Moon and Charles Dougherty: A Lunar Legacy

George Bell

·19.4k Followers· Follow

Published in The Moon And I Charles Dougherty

4 min read

759 View Claps

40 Respond

Save

Listen

The Early Life of Charles Dougherty

Charles Dougherty was born in 1921 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He developed a passion for astronomy at a young age. He built his own telescope and spent hours observing the stars and planets.

After graduating from high school, Dougherty enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He served as a navigator on B-24 bombers and flew 35 missions over Europe.

After the war, Dougherty returned to college and earned a degree in physics. He then went to work for the RAND Corporation, a think tank that provided research and analysis for the U.S. government.

The Moon and I

by Charles Dougherty

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1057 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	3 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

Dougherty's Work on the Apollo Program

In 1965, Dougherty was selected to be a member of the Apollo 15 mission, the fourth crewed mission to the Moon. He was the lunar module pilot, responsible for landing the Apollo Lunar Module (LM) on the Moon's surface.

Dougherty and his crewmates, David Scott and James Irwin, landed on the Moon on July 31, 1971. They spent two days on the Moon, conducting scientific experiments and collecting samples of lunar rocks.

During their stay on the Moon, Dougherty and his crewmates made a number of important discoveries. They found that the Moon's surface is covered in a layer of fine dust. They also discovered that the Moon's interior is much hotter than scientists had previously believed.

Dougherty's work on the Apollo 15 mission helped to pave the way for future human exploration of the Moon. He was one of the first humans to walk on the Moon, and his discoveries helped to change our understanding of our nearest celestial neighbor.

Dougherty's Later Life

After the Apollo 15 mission, Dougherty continued to work for NASA. He helped to plan future Apollo missions and develop new technologies for space exploration.

In 1973, Dougherty retired from NASA and joined the faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He taught courses in astronautics and space exploration.

Dougherty died in 2010 at the age of 88. He is survived by his wife, Joan, and two children.

Dougherty's Legacy

Charles Dougherty was a pioneer in space exploration. His work on the Apollo 15 mission helped to make the Moon landing a reality. He also helped to pave the way for future human exploration of the Moon and other celestial bodies.

Dougherty's legacy extends beyond his work in space exploration. He was also a gifted teacher and mentor. He inspired generations of students to pursue careers in science and engineering.

Dougherty's work and life story are an inspiration to us all. He reminds us that anything is possible if we set our minds to it. He also reminds us that we are all part of something bigger than ourselves. We are all explorers, and we are all capable of great things.

The Moon and I

by Charles Dougherty

5 out of 5