APOLLO 17

 
 
Apollo 17
Launch vehicle: Saturn 5
Launch: 7 December 1972
Recovery: 19 December 1972
Crew: Gene Cernan, Ronald Evans, Harrison Schmidt
The third of three Apollo J-series missions was also the sixth and final successful American lunar landing. The ALSEP was deployed, and Cernan and Schmidt conducted an extensive survey of the lunar surface aboard the LRV. Soil samples taken at Shorty Crater revealed for the first time orange-colored material in the soil. The last human activity on the moon's surface during the Apollo program came at 5:23 pm EST on 13 December 1972, with lift-off of the LM ascent module at 5:55 pm. Splashdown in the Pacific occurred after 301 hours 51 minutes.
 

 
Apollo 17 crew, posing with a LRV trainer. The Apollo 17 Saturn V is in the background.

 
 
 
Apollo Lunar Mission Pilot (LMP) Jack Schmitt brushes off the boot of Commander Gene Cernan during EVA training.

 
 
 
A closeout team member wishes Gene Cernan good luck as he prepares to enter the Command Module.

 
 
 
The Apollo 17 Saturn V illuminates the Florida sky as it streaks to the Moon.

 
 
Discarded S-IVB stage which later impacted on the Moon's surface.

 
 
 
 
Apollo 17 orbiting the Moon prior to undocking LM 12.

 
 
 
 
 
TheTaurus-Littrow landing site.

 
 
 
 
Gene Cernan salutes the U.S. flag.

 
 
 
 
 
 
LM-12 viewed from Lunar Rover Vehicle.

 
 
 
 
 
LM-12  and half-Earth above.

 
 
 
Telephoto view featuring LM-12 in the distance.

 
 
 
 
Harrison Schmitt and large boulder.

 
 
 
 
Gene Cernan on Rover and LM-12 in background.

 
 
 
Gene Cernan in LM-12 after a "moon dusty" EVA.

 
 
 
 LM-12 ascent stage returning from the Moon.

 
 
 
 
Inspection view of LM-12 (Challenger) during rendezvous.

 
 
 
 
 Command Module (America) splash down.

 
 
 
 
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