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Dr. Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt (born July 3,
1935) is a geologist, astronaut, and former
senate|senator.

==Early life and education==
Born in Santa Rita, New Mexico, Schmitt grew up in
nearby Silver City, New Mexico|Silver City. He
received a Bachelor of Science degree in science
from the California Institute of Technology in
1957 and then spent a year studying geology at the
University of Oslo in Norway. Doctor of
Philosophy|Doctorate of Philosophy in geology from
Harvard University in 1964.

==NASA career==
Before joining NASA as a member of the first group
of scientist-astronauts in June 1965, he worked at
the U.S. Geological Survey's Astrogeology Center
at Flagstaff, Arizona, developing geological field
techniques that would be used by the Apollo crews.
Following his selection, Schmitt played a key role
in training Apollo crews to be geologic observers
when they were in lunar orbit and competent
geologic field workers when they were on the lunar
surface. After each of the landing missions, he
participated in the examination and evaluation of
the returned lunar samples and helped the crews
with the scientific aspects of their mission
reports.

Because Schmitt was the only geologist in the
astronaut corps and, as well, had spent
considerable time becoming proficient in the CSM
and LM systems, it came as no surprise when, in
March 1970, he became the first of the
scientist-astronauts to receive a crew assignment.
He joined Richard Gordon (Commander) and Vance
Brand (Command Module Pilot) on the backup crew
for Apollo 15 and was clearly in line to fly as
Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 18. After the
cancellation of Apollo 18 in September 1970, many
people expected that he would be assigned to fly
on Apollo 17, the last lunar mission. That
assignment was announced in August 1971. After the
completion of Apollo 17, Schmitt played an active
role in documenting the Apollo geologic results
and also took on the task of organizing NASA's
Energy Program Office.

==Post-NASA career==
In August 1975, Schmitt resigned from NASA to seek
election as a United States Republican
Party|Republican to the United States Senate
representing New Mexico. Schmitt faced two-term
Democratic incumbent, Joseph Montoya, whom he
defeated 57%-42%. He served one term and, notably,
was the ranking Republican member of the Science,
Technology, and Space Subcommittee. He was
defeated in a re-election bid in 1982 by Jeff
Bingaman and, since then, has kept very busy as a
consultant in business, geology, space, and public
policy.

He currently lives in Silver City, New Mexico.

==Media==
multi-video start
multi-video item|filename=Ap17 schmitt
falls.ogg|title=Schmitt falls|description=Schmitt
falls while on a moonwalk during Apollo
17|format=Theora 
multi-video item|filename=Ap17
strolling.ogg|title=Schmitt
sings|description=Schmitt sings I was strolling on
the Moon one day during Apollo 17|format=Theora 
multi-video end


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succession box | before=Joseph Montoya |
title=List of United States Senators from New
Mexico|Senator from New Mexico |
years=1975–1982 | after=Jeff Bingaman

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