IT has always been a source of great annoyance to scientists: though the Apollo program is one of the milestones in the history of scientific exploration, they have been precluded from participating directly in it. Now, confident of the Apollo landing techniques perfected by the military pilots on previous missions, NASA has chosen a handsome 37-year-old geologist named Harrison ("Jack") Schmitt to be copilot of Apollo 17. If all goes well, Schmitt next week will take a historic step: he will become the first scientist from earth to walk on another world.
Schmitt's preparation began long before Apollo was conceived. The son...