Apollo 17

Apollo 17 marked the final chapter of NASA's Apollo lunar landing program and represented the peak of human exploration on the Moon. Designed as the most ambitious scientific expedition ever attempted on another world, the mission combined years of operational experience with increasingly sophisticated geological objectives.

Launched during the night of December 7, 1972, Apollo 17 carried Commander Eugene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans, and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison "Jack" Schmitt toward the Taurus-Littrow Valley, one of the Moon's most geologically diverse regions.

Originally, the Lunar Module Pilot position had been assigned to another test pilot. Following pressure from the scientific community, NASA replaced the assignment with professional geologist Harrison Schmitt, making Apollo 17 the only lunar landing mission to include a trained field geologist on the lunar surface.

After entering lunar orbit, Cernan and Schmitt descended aboard the Lunar Module Challenger while Evans remained in orbit aboard the Command Module America conducting an extensive scientific mapping mission using the Scientific Instrument Module (SIM) bay.

Apollo 17 completed three record-setting moonwalks totaling more than twenty-two hours across the Taurus-Littrow Valley. Using the Lunar Roving Vehicle, the astronauts explored mountains, landslides, volcanic deposits, and impact craters while collecting more than 110 kilograms of rocks and soil, the largest sample return of the Apollo Program.

Among the mission's most significant discoveries was the famous Orange Soil, evidence of ancient volcanic eruptions that occurred billions of years ago. Together with samples collected throughout the valley, these findings transformed scientists' understanding of lunar volcanism and the Moon's geological evolution.

During the journey to the Moon, the crew also captured one of history's most recognizable photographs. The image later known as "The Blue Marble" became one of the most influential photographs ever taken, offering humanity an unprecedented full-disk view of Earth suspended in space.

Apollo 17 concluded the Apollo Program on December 19, 1972. As Eugene Cernan climbed the Lunar Module ladder for the final time, he became the last human to leave footprints on the Moon, a distinction that remains unchanged more than fifty years later.

Apollo 17 represented the culmination of everything NASA learned during the Apollo Program. Every lesson from Apollo 11 through Apollo 16 was applied to create the most capable and scientifically productive lunar expedition ever undertaken.

The inclusion of professional geologist Harrison Schmitt transformed the mission into a true field science expedition. His expertise allowed the crew to identify subtle geological features, recognize unusual samples such as the famous Orange Soil, and maximize the scientific return from every rover traverse.

Apollo 17 established records that still stand today, including the longest lunar surface stay, the greatest distance traveled on the Moon, the longest total EVA time, and the largest collection of lunar samples ever returned to Earth. The mission fundamentally expanded humanity's understanding of lunar volcanism, impact processes, and the geological evolution of the Moon.

Beyond its scientific achievements, Apollo 17 also produced one of history's most influential photographs: The Blue Marble. The image offered humanity a breathtaking view of our entire planet suspended in the darkness of space and became an enduring symbol of Earth's fragility and unity.

When Eugene Cernan stepped off the Moon for the final time, he expressed hope that humanity would return in peace and hope for all mankind. More than fifty years later, Apollo 17 remains the last chapter of humanity's first journey to another world, while serving as the foundation for the Artemis missions that aim to begin the next.