an old pilot buddy Fred “Baldy”
Baldwin, but they both recognised
the risks they took. As seen later on
in the film, the constant danger of
naval aviation was recognised by
other Apollo astronauts who also rose
up the aviator ranks with Cernan.
Although the film is largely told
from Cernan’s point of view, other
dramatis personae from his life play
a large role in this tale. Naturally,
key personnel from the Apollo era
add to the recollections of that time,
but somewhat differently to other
retrospective NASA documentaries,
people from Cernan’s personal life
also have input giving a very fresh
perspective. His first wife Barbara
Butler candidly relates their early
courtship and married life with
daughter Tracy. Ordinary people’s
lives take starring roles against the
backdrop of the early Mercury
and Gemini Program pioneers
and JFK’s startlingly confident
and ambitious “Moon” speech.
A stylised 60’s vignette gives a light
hearted interpretation of Cernan
receiving the call to become an
astronaut and the subsequent
testing. Both Cernan and Butler
describe the constant media
attention and pressure to achieve
as an astronaut selectee. The toll
of these pressures on family life is
also telling throughout the film.
Cernan’s own spaceflight
beginnings had a traumatic extended
spacewalk. Expertly blending stock
footage from Gemini 9 and CGI
recreations, the viewer is placed
into Cernan’s shoes experiencing his
problems, an unsettling memory.
The closeness of the NASA
astronauts and families during this
era is shown as he takes us on a
journey down memory lane looking
back over the 50 year history of the
small community of NASA families in
Nassau Bay, Houston. The families’
support of each other is still evident
as the devastating losses of Gemini
9’s prime crew and the crew of
Apollo 1 are still keenly felt. The
pain is still etched in Cernan’s face
as if he lost his friends yesterday.
Apollo 17, the final landing on the
Moon was the ultimate destination
and moment of reckoning on his
life’s trajectory. The film makers ably
remind the viewers of the sacrifices
made and the shoulders stood upon
for these successes to be achieved.
As Cernan toiled in the surreal
peacefulness of the Moon’s
surface, Craig’s film highlights
the introspection Cernan felt
then, as he does now about this
exceptional experience and the
overview effect that happened to
him. His need to communicate this
profound awareness for the sake
of those that would follow and
those he has followed is clearly felt
as an obligation and this film helps
to support that message. Since
that time, Cernan has sought to
recapture that apex and gone on to
great heights as a public speaker.
While his peers, family and friends
have slowed down in their later
years, he has pushed on out of
a drive to relate his experiences,
to communicate the importance
of space exploration, STEM
education and personal excellence
but at some cost to himself.
Gene Kranz and Gene Cernan filming in Mission Control Houston. Credit: Mark Stew