Prayers from a Moonwalker
Apollo 16 astronaut Charles Duke penned a heartfelt note offering spiritual support to a friend, revealing his deep faith. Beyond his lunar legacy, this rare message shows the human side of a Moonwalker—compassionate, personal, and grounded in belief.
The ink has barely faded on a single sheet of paper, its message simple yet profound. In a rounded, clear hand, Charles Duke - Apollo 16 astronaut and the youngest man to walk on the moon - wrote:
Brian, the Bible says to lay hands on the sick and they will recover (Mark 16)...
It's not a line from a space report or a scientific briefing. It’s a quiet message of spiritual support to a friend facing his mother’s final hours.
In 1972, Duke etched his name into history by stepping onto the Descartes Highlands, becoming one of just twelve humans to have walked on the Moon. He helped collect nearly 95 kilograms of lunar rock and was the first to land on the Moon's mountainous terrain. But this letter, undated and unique, reveals a lesser-known facet of the astronaut: a man of faith. Here, he is not the NASA test pilot in a space suit, but “Charlie,” urging his friend to pray, offering scripture as solace.
This note reminds us that the figures behind the great scientific milestones of the 20th century were also sons, fathers, and believers. As Duke once said in later interviews, his experience on the Moon made him reflect on Earth's fragility and God’s creation. This one-page message - personal, emotional, and spiritual - is a rare, autograph glimpse into that inner world.
Are you a museum, a dealer, an auction house, or a private collector and wish to submit a document you believe to be important? Write to us and send it in, we’ll analyze it and get back to you promptly: contato@glorias.com.br
