The trailblazers of space exploration were the 24 Nasa astronauts who embarked on the Apollo missions to the Moon in the 1960s and 1970s, paving the way for future space travel.

With the passing of Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell, who successfully guided his crew back to Earth in 1970 after a life-threatening malfunction, the number of individuals who have ventured beyond Earth's orbit has dwindled to just five.

Over five decades have passed since humans last walked on the Moon, but the quest to return to the lunar surface is gaining momentum, with various space agencies and private companies working towards this goal.

Nasa's Artemis programme aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon by the end of the decade, while China is also striving to achieve a manned lunar landing by 2030, having successfully landed a probe on the far side of the Moon in June 2024.

Several private companies have attempted to send spacecraft to the Moon, but their efforts have been met with limited success due to various technical issues and setbacks.

Nasa had initially planned to launch the Artemis 2 mission, its first crewed lunar expedition since Apollo 17 in 1972, in 2025, but the launch has been postponed to 2026 to allow for more thorough preparation and testing.

Meanwhile, companies like SpaceX and Boeing are continuing to develop their space technology, despite encountering significant challenges and setbacks along the way.

Boeing's Starliner experienced a major malfunction that left two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station, while SpaceX's Starship has suffered a series of explosive failures during testing, prompting concerns about the safety and reliability of these spacecraft.

The passing of time is taking its toll on the remaining Apollo astronauts, with their numbers steadily decreasing as they age.

Jim Lovell, along with fellow astronauts Frank Borman and Bill Anders, made history by undertaking the first lunar mission on Apollo 8, which tested the Command/Service Module and its life support systems in preparation for the Apollo 11 landing.

During the Apollo 8 mission, the spacecraft completed 10 orbits of the Moon before returning to Earth, and Lovell was later scheduled to become the fifth person to walk on the Moon as commander of Apollo 13, although this never came to fruition due to the mission's abrupt termination.

The story of the Apollo 13 mission and its heroic recovery was later immortalized in a film of the same name, in which Lovell was portrayed by actor Tom Hanks.

After retiring from Nasa in 1973, Lovell went on to work in the telecommunications industry, and his wife of over 60 years, Marilyn, passed away in August 2023, having been a focal point of media attention during the Apollo 13 crisis.

The question on everyone's mind now is: what about the remaining five astronauts who have walked on the Moon?

Who are these individuals, and what are their stories of adventure and bravery in space?

On July 21, 1969, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin became the second person to set foot on the Moon's surface, stepping out of the lunar module Eagle just minutes after his commander, Neil Armstrong, made history by becoming the first person to walk on the Moon.

As Aldrin gazed out at the lunar landscape, he uttered the now-famous words: "Beautiful view."

Armstrong responded with: "Isn't that something?" and Aldrin replied: "Magnificent desolation," a phrase that would become synonymous with the Apollo 11 mission.

Although Aldrin was proud of his achievement, he reportedly felt a tinge of disappointment at not being the first person to walk on the Moon, a sentiment that was noted by his fellow astronaut Michael Collins.

Despite this, Aldrin remained proud of his role in the Apollo 11 mission and continued to advocate for space exploration, even punching a man who claimed the Moon landing was a hoax.

Following Neil Armstrong's passing in 2012, Aldrin paid tribute to his fellow astronaut and friend, describing him as a "true American hero" and the best pilot he had ever known.

Aldrin's thirst for adventure never wavered, and he went on to embark on expeditions to the North and South Poles, the latter at the age of 86, demonstrating his enduring passion for exploration.

As a prominent figure in the space community, Aldrin has continued to promote the importance of space travel and has become an inspiration to new generations, including the creators of the Toy Story franchise, who named the character Buzz Lightyear after him.

In January 2023, at the age of 93, Aldrin married for the fourth time, a testament to his boundless energy and enthusiasm for life.

Charlie Duke is one of the four remaining astronauts who have walked on the Moon, having done so at the age of 36, making him the youngest person to set foot on the lunar surface.

In a BBC interview, Duke recalled the "spectacular terrain" he encountered during his time on the Moon, describing the stark contrast between the blackness of space and the lunar horizon as "dramatic" and unforgettable.

Prior to his own Moonwalk, Duke played a crucial role in Nasa's Apollo programme as the Capsule Communicator, or Capcom, for the Apollo 11 mission, famously responding to Neil Armstrong's message from the Moon's surface with the words: "Roger, Tranquility. We copy you on the ground, you've got a bunch of guys about to turn blue, we're breathing again."

Duke's southern drawl and calm demeanor helped to reassure the astronauts on the Moon's surface, and he later reflected on the experience, saying he had been holding his breath in anticipation of the lunar landing.

In 2022, Duke expressed his excitement about Nasa's Artemis mission, but cautioned that the new generation of astronauts would face significant challenges, particularly with the planned landing near the Moon's South Pole, where the terrain is rugged and ice may be present.

Today, Duke lives outside San Antonio, Texas, with his wife of 60 years, Dorothy, and remains a prominent figure in the space community.

Fred Haise was a member of the Apollo 13 crew that narrowly avoided disaster in 1970 when an explosion occurred on board, forcing the mission to be aborted while the spacecraft was over 200,000 miles from Earth.

The world watched in suspense as Nasa worked to return the damaged spacecraft and its crew safely to Earth, and Haise, along with his crewmates James Lovell and Jack Swigert, became an overnight sensation, appearing on talk shows and captivating the nation's attention.

Although Haise never made it to the Moon, he later served as a test pilot on the prototype space shuttle Enterprise and has remained involved in the space community, sharing his experiences and insights with new generations of astronauts and engineers.

Haise's story is a testament to the bravery and resilience of the Apollo astronauts, who faced unimaginable challenges and risks in pursuit of their mission to explore the Moon and push the boundaries of human knowledge.

Now, as the space community looks to the future and the prospect of returning humans to the Moon, the legacy of astronauts like Haise, Lovell, Aldrin, and Duke serves as a reminder of the power of determination, courage, and innovation.

The Artemis programme and other lunar initiatives aim to build on the foundations laid by these pioneers, with the goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon and eventually sending humans to Mars and beyond.

As the world continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, the stories of the Apollo astronauts will remain an essential part of our collective heritage, inspiring future generations to reach for the stars and pursue their dreams, no matter how ambitious they may seem.

The Apollo astronauts' contributions to the field of space exploration are immeasurable, and their bravery, skill, and dedication have paved the way for the next great leap for humanity.

With their legacy serving as a guiding light, the space community will continue to strive for excellence, driven by the same sense of wonder, curiosity, and adventure that defined the Apollo era.

As we look to the future and the possibilities that lie ahead, we honor the memory of Jim Lovell and the other Apollo astronauts who have passed on, while celebrating the enduring spirit of exploration and discovery that they embodied.

Following his departure from NASA, Haise pursued a career in the aerospace industry, a path similar to that of many of his Apollo colleagues, until he retired.

Schmitt's background differed from that of many astronauts of his time, as he had not previously served as a pilot in the US military.

As a geologist and educator, Schmitt initially played a role in instructing NASA astronauts on geological observations during their lunar excursions, before being selected as a scientist-astronaut in 1965.

Schmitt was a member of the Apollo 17 crew, the final manned mission to the Moon, which landed in December 1972, with Commander Eugene Cernan being one of the last two individuals to walk on the lunar surface.

After leaving NASA in 1975, Schmitt went on to serve a single term as a US Senator representing New Mexico, and subsequently worked as a consultant across various industries, while also maintaining his academic pursuits.

Schmitt has also been noted for his public statements contradicting the prevailing scientific consensus on climate change.

David Scott, who commanded the Apollo 15 mission, is among the select group of four living individuals who have walked on the Moon, and also had the distinction of being one of the first to operate a vehicle on its surface.

In 1971, Scott and his crewmate James Irwin conducted a test of the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), which enabled astronauts to cover greater distances from the lunar module at speeds of up to 8 mph (12 km/h).

Recalling the experience, Scott noted that the initial uncertainty of the mission's success made the moment of deploying and successfully operating the LRV particularly exhilarating.

Upon returning from the Moon, Scott took on various management roles within NASA, prior to transitioning to the private sector.

Scott has also lent his expertise as a consultant on several film and television projects, including the movie Apollo 13 and the HBO miniseries From The Earth To The Moon.

The accomplishments of future lunar explorers remain to be seen, leaving room for anticipation and speculation about their achievements.