Final Apollo Lunar Landing was ‘A Tribute to American Ingenuity’

December 13, 2022

America to the Moon Part 15: A Mission of ‘Surprising Discoveries‘

By Bob Granath

NASA is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the final Moon landing of the Apollo Program. The results of the 12-day Apollo 17 mission, flown in December 1972, led to some of the most significant findings of the first efforts of lunar exploration.

Gene Cernan speaks to guests gathered for the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's dinner celebrating the 40th anniversary of Apollo 17 in 2012. Listening on the left is Buzz Aldrin, lunar module pilot on Apollo 11, the first Moon landing mission. — Gene Cernan speaks to guests gathered for the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s dinner celebrating the 40th anniversary of Apollo 17 in 2012. Listening on the left is Buzz Aldrin, lunar module pilot on Apollo 11, the first Moon landing mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

The agency’s endeavor to continue exploration of the Earth’s nearest celestial neighbor recently began anew with the spectacular flight of Artemis 1, helping pave the way for astronauts to return to the Moon.

During an Astronaut Scholarship Foundation dinner celebrating the 40th anniversary of Apollo 17 in 2012, mission commander Gene Cernan spoke of the importance of the final lunar landing flight of that era.

“It was a tribute to American ingenuity,” he said. He then pointed to the extensive NASA/industry team that made it happen. “If Apollo 17 was looked at as a success, don’t look at me, look at these guys. We built upon everything they did. We built upon the mistakes, we built upon what we learned from them, and I tell you what, Apollo 17 I’m not going to say it was a piece of cake, but it was as close as you can possibly come because of what they did.”

*The Saturn V vehicle for Apollo 17 rolls out of the Vehicle Assembly Building on Aug. 28, 1972. It is on its way Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Photo credit: NASA*

As the workforce at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center prepared for the launch of Apollo 17, Dr. Kurt Debus, the center’s director at the time, spoke of the importance of the chosen landing site.

“The Apollo 17 mission is the sixth and final scientific lunar expedition planned in the Apollo program,” he said in the Nov. 30, 1972 edition of the center’s employee newspaper, Spaceport News. “The Taurus-Littrow landing site is a combination of mountainous highlands and a lowlands valley. It is an important site in the scientific network on the Moon and will offer the opportunity to sample materials from large, steep-sided mountains and dark non-mare material filling the valleys.”

Scientists believed the landing site was a location where rocks were both older and younger than those previously returned from other Apollo missions. They also wanted to investigate the possibility of relatively recent volcanic activity.

Apollo 17 Astronauts

A veteran of both Gemini and Apollo led the crew that included two first-time flyers, one of whom was the first scientist astronaut to make a trip to the Moon.

With the Apollo 17 Saturn V launch vehicle in the background, the crew is photographed with a lunar roving vehicle trainer. Gene Cernan is seated with Jack Schmitt, standing on the left, and Ron Evans. Photo credit: NASA

A native of Chicago, Cernan was a U.S. Navy captain. He graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and joined the Navy through the Reserve Officers Training Corps. After flight training, he became a naval aviator, serving as a fighter pilot. He went on to earn a master’s in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1963. Later that year, Cernan was selected as a member of the third group of NASA astronauts.

Cernan was pilot of Gemini IX with Tom Stafford in 1966 and performed a two-hour spacewalk. In 1969, he was lunar module pilot on Apollo 10 with Stafford and John Young. Stafford and Cernan took their lunar module down to about 50,000 feet above the Moon in a rehearsal for the first lunar landing mission taking place two months later.

Command module pilot Ron Evans, also a U.S. Navy captain, grew up in St. Francis, Kansas. He was awarded a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Kansas in 1956 and that same year joined the U.S. Navy, becoming a naval aviator. He served as a fighter pilot and flew combat missions in Vietnam. In 1964, he received a master’s in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. Evans was a part of the fifth group of NASA astronauts selected in 1966.

Apollo 17 astronaut Ron Evans says goodbye to wife, Jan, as he and Jack Schmitt, behind him depart the crew quarters at the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building to enter van for ride to launch pad. — *Ron Evans says goodbye to wife, Jan, as he and the other astronauts depart the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building for ride to launch pad. Photo credit: NASA*

In June 1965, NASA selected its first group of scientist astronauts including Jack Schmitt, a geologist. Born in Santa Rita, New Mexico, he grew up in nearby Silver City. Schmitt graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in geology. He then spent a year studying geology at the University of Oslo in Norway. Schmitt received a doctorate in geology from Harvard University in 1964, based on his field studies in Scandinavia.

Prior to Apollo 17, all NASA astronauts were experienced military pilots. Before starting his preparations as lunar module pilot for the mission to the Moon, Schmitt had been one of the scientists training astronauts chosen to visit the lunar surface. During preparation for the mission, he spoke of his role as a scientist.

“I cannot say specifically what I can do that someone else cannot do,” he said. “But, I can apply my experience and observe geologic and other scientific features of the Moon. I think it will pay off with someone with this experience.”

‘We’re going up’

*Just past midnight on Dec. 7, 1972, the Apollo 17 Saturn V rocket lights up the night sky at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center as it lifts off. Photo credit: NASA*

Lifting off at 12:33 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1972, Apollo 17 was America’s first piloted mission to launch at night. People from North Carolina to Cuba reported seeing the Saturn V rocket streak into the dark sky. It also caused a sensation inside the command module atop the rocket.

“There was a brilliant and frightening burst of orange fire when the five huge engines ignited with a fury that shook the land for miles around, and thick columns of white smoke boiled into the spotlights,” Cernan wrote in his 1999 book, Last Man on the Moon.

Schmitt put it more succinctly.

“Hey, there’s Antarctica. It’s full of snow,” said Jack Schmitt as he took this photo of the Earth. This view, known as the “Blue Marble,” extends from the Mediterranean Sea area to the Antarctica South polar ice cap. Almost the entire coastline of Africa is clearly visible. This is the first time the Apollo translunar trajectory made it possible to photograph the south polar ice cap. — “Hey, there’s Antarctica. It’s full of snow,” said Jack Schmitt as he took this photo of the Earth. This view, known as the “Blue Marble,” extends from the Mediterranean Sea area to the Antarctica South polar ice cap. Almost the entire coastline of Africa is clearly visible. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Schmitt

“We’re going up, man oh man.,” he said.

After a three-day out-bound trip, the lunar module, named “Challenger,” by the crew and the command module, “America,” fired its service propulsion system engine on Dec. 10, arriving in lunar orbit.

“America has arrived on station for the challenge ahead,” Cernan said after the firing was completed.

The next day Cernan and Schmitt climbed aboard the lunar module and undocked from the command module. The two spacecraft orbited close together for about an hour and a half making visual inspections and final pre-landing checks.

“We’re floating free out here,” Evans said. “The Challenger looks real pretty.”

‘This is absolutely spectacular’

*Apollo 17’s Taurus-Littrow landing site is photographed during the lunar module’s descent to the Moon on Dec. 10, 1972. Photo credit: NASA*

As Cernan and Schmitt began firing Challenger’s engine to begin the 12-minute powered descent, they were facing up, looking into the blackness of space. As the lunar module pitched over at 12,000 feet above the surface, they had their first good view of the landing site.

“Man, Gordo, this is absolutely spectacular,” Cernan said to fellow astronaut Gordon Fullerton in Mission Control at the Manned Spacecraft Center (now Johnson Space Center) in Houston. Fullerton was serving as capsule communicator, also known as a capcom.

“OK, Houston the Challenger has landed,” Cernan said as the lunar module touched down at 2:55 p.m. EST on Dec. 11. “Tell America that Challenger is at Taurus-Littrow.”

*Gene Cernan test-drives the lunar roving vehicle during the early part of the first Moonwalk at the Taurus-Littrow landing site. The Lunar Module is in the background. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Schmitt*

The two lunar explorers were eager to get to work exploring with the first Moonwalk beginning four hours after landing.

“As I step off at the surface and Taurus-Littrow, I’d like to dedicate the first step of Apollo 17 to all those who made it possible,” Cernan said. Then, excitedly added: “Oh, my golly, unbelievable.”

Their first task was to unload the lunar roving vehicle. It was a dune-buggy-like car folded up and attached to the side of the lunar module. It allowed astronauts to travel farther on the Moon’s surface retrieving more diverse rock and soil samples.

While Cernan gave it a test drive, Schmitt went off to begin another task.

*Jack Schmitt is next to the deployed United States flag pointing toward Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Gene Cernan*

“I’m going to deploy an ALSEP,” Schmitt said. An ALSEP, or Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package, included several remotely operated scientific instruments set up by Apollo astronauts at the landing site of each of the five Apollo missions following Apollo 11. For the first landing, a smaller package was left behind.

Cernan and Schmitt began their geological expedition, driving to a nearby crater they dubbed, “Steno crater,” south of their landing site. The astronauts collected 31 pounds of samples and deployed two small explosive packages that later were detonated remotely. The resulting explosions were detected by geophones and seismometers left by astronauts during previous Apollo missions.

‘There is orange soil!’

During the second Moonwalk, Cernan was taking pictures of a small crater the astronauts called, “Shorty.” Schmitt’s boot kicked up a startling find.

“Oh, hey,” Schmitt said. “There is orange soil! It’s all over, it’s orange!”

The orange soil was small beads of volcanic glass formed over 3.5 billion years ago. The discovery caused quite a stir among the scientists at Mission Control, who believed that the Shorty Crater might be a volcanic vent.

However, post-mission study of the samples collected at the site revealed that Shorty was not a volcanic vent, but an impact crater. The analysis determined that the orange soil was a remnant of a “fire fountain.” In the Moon’s early history, well before the meteoric impact forming Shorty Crater, the fountain sprayed molten lava. The orange volcanic beads were droplets of molten lava that solidified and were buried until exposed by the impact that formed Shorty less than 20 million years ago.

On Dec. 11, 1972, Jack Schmitt used a lunar rake to collect samples during the first Apollo 17 Moonwalk at the Taurus-Littrow landing site. The lunar rake, a geology hand tool, helps sift out rocks from the soil. Photo credit: NASA/Gene Cernan

“In years to come, experts would say the orange soil was one of the most surprising discoveries of the entire Apollo Program,” Cernan said.

Prior to Apollo 17, most researchers believed the Moon “died” geologically about three billion years ago and had changed little since. Scientists now understand that the orange soil discovery means the Moon is still active enough to produce volcanic rock.

Additionally, Schmitt believes another important find from studying lunar samples was determining the effects of extended exposure sunlight.

“Learning how the Sun effects the Moon helps up predict the environmental evolution of Earth,” he said. (This is) “because the Sun is the prime source for change to our environment.”

“Here I am folks in the middle of a bounder field,” said Jack Schmitt seen next to a house-sized boulder dubbed “Tracy's Rock,” for Cernan’s nine-year-old daughter. The lunar roving vehicle is parked to the right. — “Here I am folks in the middle of a bounder field,” said Jack Schmitt seen next to a house-sized boulder dubbed “Tracy’s Rock,” for Cernan’s nine-year-old daughter. The lunar roving vehicle is parked to the right. Photo credit: NASA/Gene Cernan

During the third Moonwalk on Dec. 13, Cernan and Schmitt rode their rover northeast of the landing site exploring the base of the North Massif Mountain. At one point, they examined a house-sized split boulder dubbed “Tracy’s Rock,” named for Cernan’s nine-year-old daughter.

During the third and final excursion on the lunar surface, Cernan stands by the American flag and the lunar rover's umbrella-shaped high-gain antenna. Taurus–Littrow’s Sculptured Hills are in the background. — During the third and final excursion on the lunar surface, Cernan stands by the American flag and the lunar rover’s umbrella-shaped high-gain antenna. Taurus–Littrow’s Sculptured Hills are in the background. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Schmitt

Near the base of the massif, Schmitt also collected a sample that was troctolite, a silicate mineral or igneous rock rich in magnesium and iron. It later was identified as the oldest sample returned from the Moon, and it had not been damaged by high-impact geological events. Scientists have used the sample in research to help determine if the Moon formed a metallic core or, as the study results suggests, the Moon has an electrically conducting fluid at its core that can maintain a magnetic field much like the Earth.

After about seven hours on the surface, the two record-setting astronauts prepared to return to their lunar module. During three Moonwalks, Cernan and Schmitt spent more than 22 hours collecting 254 pounds of rock and soil samples. Using their lunar rover, they covered 22 miles at the Taurus–Littrow landing site.

Inside the lunar module after the third Moonwalk on Dec. 13, 1972, Gene Cernan, left, and Jack Schmitt are covered with lunar dust. Photo credit: NASA/Left: Jack Schmitt, Right: Gene Cernan

‘Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17’

The Apollo 17 command and service module, “America,” is seen from the lunar module "Challenger" during the rendezvous in lunar orbit on Dec. 14, 1972. The exposed scientific instrument module bay is visible in the service module. — The Apollo 17 command and service module, “America,” is seen from the lunar module “Challenger” during the rendezvous in lunar orbit on Dec. 14, 1972. The exposed scientific instrument module bay is visible in the service module. Photo credit: NASA

As Cernan was about to climb aboard the lunar module for the final time, he commemorated the moment.

“I’m on the surface; and, as I take man’s last step from the surface, back home for some time to come – but we believe not too long into the future – I’d like to just say what I believe history will record that America’s challenge of today has forged man’s destiny of tomorrow,” he said. “As we leave the Moon at Taurus–Littrow, we leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind. Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17.”

During the return trip to Earth on Dec. 17, 1972, Apollo 17 command module pilot Ron Evans performs a spacewalk to retrieved film cassettes from the scientific instrument module. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Schmitt

After three days on the surface, they were ready to begin their trip home.

“We’re on our way, Houston,” said Cernan as the ascent module half of their lunar lander lifted off on Dec. 14.

The lunar module docked with Evans in the command module about two hours later. The crew then transferred equipment and lunar samples for the return trip home. After two more days in lunar orbit, the command module’s service propulsion engine fired to propel the spacecraft on a trajectory back to Earth.

*On Dec. 19, 1972, an Apollo 17 astronaut is hoisted aboard a hovering U.S. Navy helicopter from the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga seen in the background. Photo credit: NASA*

While orbiting the Moon solo, Evans operated instruments and cameras in a scientific Instrument module bay inside his spacecraft’s service module. He completed a detailed series of geological observations and operated a mapping camera.

During the three-day return trip back to Earth, Evans performed a 65-minute spacewalk to retrieve film cassettes from the scientific Instrument module bay. He was assisted by Schmitt who stood in the open hatch of the command module. All this took place while Apollo 17 was traveling 184,000 miles from Earth.

The Apollo 17 crew is greeted aboard the USS Ticonderoga on Dec. 19, 1972 concluding the final lunar landing mission in NASA's Apollo program. From the left Gene Cernan, Ron Evans and Jack Schmitt. — The Apollo 17 crew is greeted aboard the USS Ticonderoga on Dec. 19, 1972 concluding the final lunar landing mission in NASA’s Apollo program. From the left Gene Cernan, Ron Evans and Jack Schmitt. Photo credit: NASA

Apollo 17 re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean southeast of Samoa on Dec. 19, just 4 miles from the recovery aircraft carrier, USS Ticonderoga. Cernan, Evans, and Schmitt were picked up by a recovery helicopter crew and were transported to the ship 52 minutes after landing.

“The Apollo 17 mission formally ended the most challenging program and series of explorations ever attempted by mankind,” Debus said after the crew’s recovery. “We here at Kennedy, along with all the NASA/industry team, can look back with great pride at the success we have achieved.”

Recalling the Apollo era at the 2012 celebration, Cernan believes it opened the way for future exploration.

“Apollo 17 was not the end,” he said. “It was just the beginning of a whole new era in the history of this country and the history of spaceflight.”

On flight day 13 of the Artemis 1 mission, Nov. 28, 2022, the Orion spacecraft reached its maximum distance from Earth when it was 268,563 miles away. Orion traveled farther than any other spacecraft built for humans. Photo credit: NASA

That era resumed with the Nov. 16, 2022 launch of Artemis 1, an uncrewed flight test of NASA’s Orion spacecraft. It that orbited the Moon as a precursor to astronauts returning to the lunar surface in the near future. During a prelaunch news conference, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson noted the last time astronauts launched to the Moon was a half-century ago.

“For all of us that gaze up at the Moon, dreaming of the day humankind will return to the lunar surface, we are here,” he said. “We are going back and that journey begins with Artemis 1.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the final article in a series of features marking the 50th anniversary of NASA’s Apollo missions to the Moon. During the 1960s and early 1970s, the space agency and its contractors sent 24 astronauts on nine missions from Earth with 12 men walking on the lunar surface. It began a period of exploration that now is leading to more pioneering flights for the 21st century.