Apollo 17 was the last lunar landing mission of Project Apollo. It was launched by a Saturn V on December 7, 1972, carrying Commander Eugene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ron Evans, and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt. The Command and Service Modules, CSM 114, "America," docked with Lunar Module LM-12, "Challenger," shortly after injection into a lunar trajectory. Cernan and Schmitt, the only geologist to walk on the moon, landed the "Challenger" in the Taurus-Littrow region of the moon. They spent three days on the moon, performing 3 EVAs during that time. While collecting a record 112 kgs of lunar samples, they spent nearly 22 hours outside of the LM and drove the Lunar Roving Vehicle 35 kilometers. During the return to Earth, Ron Evans performed an EVA to retrieve film and experiment packages from the "America's" Service Module, which was equipped with a sophisticated set of survey instruments for lunar orbit. The crew landed in the Pacific Ocean on December 19, nearly 13 days after launch.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
SPACECRAFT-Crewed
Astronaut
Eugene A. Cernan
Harrison H. Schmitt
Ronald E. Evans
Manufacturer
North American Rockwell
Dimensions
Overall: 10 ft. 7 in. tall x 12 ft. 10 in. wide (322.6 x 391.2cm)
Materials
Aluminum alloy, stainless steel, and titanium structures. Outer shell - stainless steel honeycomb between stainless steel sheets. Crew compartment inner shell - aluminum honeycomb between aluminum alloy sheets.
Epoxy-resin ablative heat shield covers outside.
Inventory Number
A19740022000
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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