After Cernan, Only Six Apollo Moonwalkers Remain - Space
The generation of NASA astronauts who traveled beyond Earth orbit is now in their 80s.
www.space.comHere’s the latest on living Apollo astronauts as of 2025–2026.
Answer
- As of August 2025, six Apollo astronauts who flew to the Moon were still alive: David Scott, Russell Schweickart, Buzz Aldrin, Fred Haise, Charles Duke, and Harrison Schmitt. Jim Lovell had died in August 2025. These counts reflect those with Moonflight involvement plus one who orbited without landing [Britannica 2025 update].[1]
Context and details
- Living Moonwalkers and non-moonwalkers: The six living are a mix of Moonwalkers (Aldrin, Scott, Schmitt, Duke) and non-Moonwalkers (Schweickart, Haise) who participated in lunar missions but did not walk on the Moon. Britannica’s August 2025 update provides the roster and notes Lovell’s death in 2025.[1]
- Notable recent changes: Reports in 2024–2025 indicate multiple Apollo veterans had passed away, reducing the living count from earlier years. Ongoing coverage across space-news outlets tracks these changes as part of the Apollo legacy,,.[3][4][5]
What this means for Artemis-era context
- The surviving members remain highly cited voices for lunar exploration and space policy discussions, often participating in interviews, commemorations, and STEM outreach. Several have publicly reflected on Artemis and future Moon missions, drawing on their Apollo experiences,.[4][1]
Caveats
- Counts can change with new announcements. The latest authoritative update cited here is from Britannica in August 2025, which is the most compact verified summary I can confirm right now.[1]
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent public statements or interview highlights from each living astronaut and summarize their current perspectives on Artemis and Moon exploration.