Apollo 17

Spacecraft· NASAinactive

Apollo 17 — the last crewed mission to the Moon (December 1972); landed at Taurus–Littrow for the longest lunar stay.

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Key facts

Distance from Sun

1.01 AU

Status

Completed

Launched

1972

Mission & specifications

Mission

Operator: NASA
Launched: December 7, 1972
Status: Completed

Trajectory

Distance from the Sun: 1.01 AU
Distance from Earth: 0.206 AU
Distance from Venus: 0.504 AU

Mission

Apollo 17 was the last time human beings walked on the Moon. Launched in the first night-time liftoff of a Saturn V, on 7 December 1972, it carried commander Eugene Cernan, command-module pilot Ronald Evans, and Harrison Schmitt — a professional geologist, and the only trained scientist to reach the lunar surface during Apollo. Cernan and Schmitt landed in the Taurus–Littrow valley, a site chosen for its mix of ancient highlands and what looked like younger volcanic material. Over three days they made three excursions in the electric lunar rover, ranging kilometres from the lander and collecting 111 kilograms of samples — the largest haul of the programme. Their most celebrated find came at Shorty crater, where Schmitt spotted bright orange soil: tiny beads of volcanic glass, sprayed out in a fire-fountain eruption more than three billion years ago. The mission set records for the longest lunar stay and the longest total time spent walking and driving on the surface. As Cernan climbed the ladder for the final time on 14 December, he left the last human footprints on the Moon and spoke of returning 'with peace and hope for all mankind'. More than half a century later, no one has gone back.

1972Night launch of the final ApolloLaunch
The only night-time Saturn V liftoff carries Cernan, Evans and the geologist Schmitt.
1972Lunar orbit insertionArrival
Apollo 17 enters orbit around the Moon ahead of the descent to Taurus–Littrow.
1972Landing at Taurus–LittrowLanding
Cernan and Schmitt set down in a deep valley of highlands and suspected volcanic terrain.
1972Three moonwalks and the orange soilSpacewalk / EVA
Across three rover excursions the pair gather 111 kg of samples; Schmitt finds orange volcanic glass.
1972The last footprints on the MoonAscent
Cernan climbs the ladder for the final time; no human has returned since.
1972Pacific splashdownSplashdown
Apollo 17 closes the crewed lunar programme.

Images

PRELAUNCH - APOLLO 17 (ROLLOUT) - KSC — NASA/JSC · NASA Image Library

PRELAUNCH - APOLLO 17 (ROLLOUT) — NASA/JSC · NASA Image Library

Launch of the Apollo 17 lunar landing mission — NASA/JSC · NASA Image Library

Candid photo of Astronaut Eugene Cernan aboard Apollo 17 spacecraft — NASA/JSC · NASA Image Library

Astronaut Eugene Cernan sleeping aboard Apollo 17 spacecraft — NASA/JSC · NASA Image Library

Apollo 17,Eugene A. Cernan inside the Command Module — NASA/JSC · NASA Image Library

View of Africa and Madagascar from the Apollo 17 spacecraft — NASA/JSC · NASA Image Library

Candid photo of Astronauts Cernan and Schmitt aboard Apollo 17 spacecraft — NASA/JSC · NASA Image Library

Images from open archives · credit shown per image