Apollo 17, NASA's final lunar mission, concluded on December 14, 1972, marking humanity's last footsteps on the Moon. Astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt spent over three days exploring the Taurus-Littrow valley while setting multiple records for lunar exploration.
The final footsteps on the lunar surface were made during Apollo 17 - NASA's last Moon landing mission that concluded on December 14, 1972. Astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt spent over three days exploring the Moon's surface while Ronald Evans orbited above in the command module.
This historic mission marked the end of humanity's first chapter of lunar exploration. Apollo 17 set several records including the longest lunar surface stay the longest total extravehicular activities and the largest lunar sample return. After six successful Moon landings starting with Apollo 11 in 1969 NASA's Apollo program came to an end leaving Cernan as "the last man on the Moon" - a title he'd hold for over 50 years and counting.
The Historic Apollo 17 Mission
#Apollo 17 launched on December 11, 1972, marking humanity's final Moon landing mission. The mission demonstrated NASA's advanced lunar exploration capabilities through groundbreaking scientific achievements.
Meet the Final Moon Landing Crew
#Commander Eugene Cernan led the Apollo 17 crew with extensive spaceflight experience from Gemini 9A and Apollo 10. Harrison Schmitt served as Lunar Module Pilot, bringing his expertise as a professional geologist to enhance the mission's scientific objectives. Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans maintained orbit operations while his crewmates explored the lunar surface.
Launch and Journey Details
#The Saturn V rocket carrying Apollo 17 lifted off from Kennedy Space Center at 12:33 AM EST on December 11, 1972. Key mission milestones included:
| Event | Duration/Distance |
|---|---|
| Total Mission Length | 12 days, 13 hours |
| Lunar Surface Stay | 3 days, 2 hours |
| Distance Traveled | 248,655 miles |
| Lunar Rover Distance | 22.3 miles |
The crew conducted three EVAs (moonwalks) in the Taurus-Littrow valley, collecting 243 pounds of lunar samples using the lunar rover to explore diverse geological sites. The enhanced mobility provided by the rover enabled the astronauts to cover more ground than any previous Apollo mission.
December 1972: Humanity's Last Lunar Visit
#Apollo 17's lunar exploration marked humanity's final footsteps on the Moon on December 14, 1972. Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt conducted extensive scientific research during their 75-hour stay on the lunar surface.
Key Landing Site: Taurus-Littrow Valley
#The Taurus-Littrow Valley provided exceptional geological diversity for Apollo 17's exploration. Located between two massive mountain ranges rising 4,800 feet above the valley floor, this landing site contained both ancient highland material and younger volcanic deposits. The lunar rover traversed through the valley's unique features including the split boulder at Station 6, dark mantle deposits and the prominent Lee-Lincoln scarp.
Scientific Achievements During the Mission
#- Collected 243 pounds of rock and soil samples representing 3.7 billion years of lunar history
- Deployed the Surface Gravimeter Experiment measuring lunar tidal deformations
- Installed the Lunar Seismic Profiling Experiment using eight explosive packages
- Recorded temperature variations using the Heat Flow Experiment
- Measured the Moon's thin atmosphere using the Lunar Atmospheric Composition Experiment
| Scientific Achievement | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Rock Samples Collected | 243 pounds |
| Distance Covered by Rover | 22.3 miles |
| Total EVA Duration | 22 hours 4 minutes |
| Deep Core Samples | 3.01 meters |
Record-Breaking Mission Accomplishments
#Apollo 17 established multiple records during its historic final lunar expedition in December 1972. The mission demonstrated NASA's advanced capabilities through unprecedented achievements in lunar exploration duration activities.
Longest Lunar Surface Stay
#Apollo 17 astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt spent 75 hours on the lunar surface, setting a record for the longest Moon stay of any Apollo mission. The extended duration enabled comprehensive geological surveys using the lunar rover to explore the Taurus-Littrow valley. Their surface operations spanned three days and two hours, surpassing the previous Apollo missions' stay times by several hours.
Most Moonwalks Completed
#The crew conducted three extensive moonwalks totaling 22 hours and 4 minutes:
- First EVA: 7 hours 12 minutes exploring the valley floor
- Second EVA: 7 hours 37 minutes investigating the South Massif
- Third EVA: 7 hours 15 minutes examining the North Massif
These moonwalks achieved:
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Greatest distance covered: 22.3 miles using the lunar rover
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Deepest core sample collection: 3.01 meters
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Largest sample return: 243 pounds of lunar material
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Longest total EVA duration of any Apollo mission
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Deploying multiple geological experiment stations
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Collecting diverse rock samples spanning 3.7 billion years
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Documenting lunar features through extensive photography
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Installing scientific equipment for long-term lunar monitoring
Why Apollo 17 Became the Final Mission
#Apollo 17's classification as the final Moon landing stemmed from significant changes in NASA's operational landscape during the early 1970s. The conclusion of this historic mission marked the end of an era in space exploration, with Eugene Cernan becoming the last human to walk on the lunar surface.
Budget Cuts and Changing Priorities
#NASA faced substantial funding reductions as public interest in lunar missions declined after Apollo 11's successful Moon landing. Congress decreased NASA's budget from $4.7 billion in 1966 to $3.3 billion in 1972. The agency canceled Apollo missions 18, 19, and 20, reallocating resources to address domestic priorities including:
- Economic challenges from the 1970s recession
- Rising costs of the Vietnam War
- Increased focus on social programs
- Public perception of diminishing scientific returns
Shift Toward Other Space Programs
#- Skylab space station operations from 1973-1974
- Apollo-Soyuz Test Project collaboration with Soviet Union in 1975
- Development of the reusable Space Shuttle program
- Enhanced Earth observation satellite missions
- Advanced robotic exploration initiatives
| Program Costs (1970s) | Budget (Billions) |
|---|---|
| Apollo Program Peak | $4.7 |
| Apollo 17 Era | $3.3 |
| Skylab | $2.2 |
| Space Shuttle Dev. | $1.6 |
Eugene Cernan: The Last Man on the Moon
#Eugene Cernan earned his place in history as commander of Apollo 17, departing the lunar surface on December 14, 1972. His final words on the Moon captured the significance of humanity's last lunar visit: "We leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind."
Cernan's path to becoming the last moonwalker included:
- Flying on Gemini 9A in 1966 as pilot
- Serving as lunar module pilot on Apollo 10 in 1969
- Commanding Apollo 17 as his final spaceflight
During Apollo 17's lunar exploration, Cernan and Harrison Schmitt:
- Conducted three EVAs totaling 22 hours 4 minutes
- Traversed 22.3 miles in the lunar rover
- Collected 243 pounds of moon rocks samples
- Deployed multiple scientific experiments
Before leaving the Moon, Cernan performed these symbolic acts:
- Traced his daughter Tracy's initials in the lunar dust
- Left his family photo on the surface
- Placed the last human footprints on lunar soil
Cernan maintained an active role in space advocacy after Apollo 17, speaking about his experiences and promoting future lunar exploration. He passed away on January 16, 2017, at age 82, holding the distinction of being the last human to walk on the Moon for over five decades.
| Cernan's Apollo 17 Records | Statistics |
|---|---|
| Time on Lunar Surface | 75 hours |
| Distance Traveled (Lunar Rover) | 22.3 miles |
| Moonwalks Conducted | 3 EVAs |
| Samples Collected | 243 pounds |
Key Takeaways
#- Apollo 17, NASA's final Moon landing mission, concluded on December 14, 1972, marking the last time humans walked on the lunar surface
- Commander Eugene Cernan, Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt, and Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans conducted the record-breaking 12-day mission
- The crew spent over 75 hours at the Taurus-Littrow Valley landing site, completing three moonwalks and collecting 243 pounds of lunar samples
- Apollo 17 set several records including longest lunar surface stay, longest total EVA time, and largest sample return from any Apollo mission
- The mission's conclusion marked the end of NASA's Apollo program, with budget cuts and shifting priorities leading to the cancellation of future lunar missions
Conclusion
#The Apollo 17 mission stands as a testament to human achievement and marks the end of an extraordinary era in space exploration. Commander Eugene Cernan's final steps on the lunar surface weren't just a personal milestone - they represented humanity's last direct contact with the Moon for over five decades.
While budget constraints and shifting priorities led NASA to redirect its focus NASA's accomplishments during the Apollo program laid the groundwork for future space exploration. The scientific data and lunar samples collected during Apollo 17 continue to provide valuable insights into the Moon's geology and formation even today.
As we look toward returning humans to the Moon through modern initiatives the achievements and lessons of Apollo 17 remain more relevant than ever.