Monday, December 7, 2015

The last Apollo mission launched in 1972

Cernan on the lunar surface.

Apollo 17, the last of the Apollo missions, was launched December 7, 1972.  On board were Commander Eugene A. Cernan, Command Module Pilot, Ronald E. Evans and Lunar Modular Pilot Harrison H. Schmitt.  It was the longest manned lunar landing flight (12 days, 13 hours, 51 minutes, 59 seconds), the longest lunar surface vehicular activities (22 hours total), largest sample return (110.52kg or 243.7 lb), and the longest time in lunar orbit (6 days).


Schmitt next to a large boulder.

They returned to Earth December 19, splashing down in the South Pacific Ocean.

Cernan in the Lunar Module


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