(CNN) Eugene A. Cernan, the last astronaut to leave his footprints on the surface of the moon, has died, NASA said Monday. "We are saddened by the loss of retired NASA astronaut Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon," the US space agency said on Twitter. We are saddened by the loss of retired NASA astronaut Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon. https://t.co/Q9OSdRewI5 pic.twitter.com/gPdFTnXF2C — NASA (@NASA) January 16, 2017A retired United States Navy Captain, Cernan earned several distinctions in his 13 years with NASA. But he's best remembered as commander of Apollo 17, the last mission to the moon in December of 1972.

Source: CNN January 16, 2017 20:37 UTC