Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Liftoff of Orion capsule.
Credit: NASA

The new entry in human-carrying spacecraft, the Orion capsule, has been lofted into deep space – and onboard is a photograph of the first man on the Moon, as well as the last.

A photograph of the Apollo program’s Neil Armstrong (Apollo 11) and Eugene Cernan (Apollo 17) — the first person and last man to walk on the Moon — shows the two raising the American flag acknowledging a cheering crowd at Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium in 2007.

This photo of Purdue alumni astronauts Neil A. Armstrong (left) and Gene A. Cernan, is aboard the Orion space vehicle. The photo is from a 2007 football game in Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium.
Credit: Purdue University

That image is among items representing Purdue University’s contributions to flight and space history.

Purdue University Libraries’ Division of Archives and Special Collections provided the group photograph taken at the university’s 1999 Purdue astronaut reunion.

The Orion test flight carries this photo of Purdue alumni astronauts into space. The photo was taken during their reunion on Purdue’s campus in 1999.
Credit: Purdue University

Two Purdue pennants are on board, notes a Purdue University press statement.

“These items represent Purdue’s contributions to the U.S. space program – by not only its astronauts but also by the generations of engineers and scientists who have graduated from Purdue and gone on to work for NASA and in the aerospace industry.”