Apollo 17

Quick Facts: Who was Apollo 17?

Subject:

Apollo 17

Known for:

NASA's final crewed mission; the sixth and most recent human landing on the Moon.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Apollo 17 (December 7–19, 1972) was the eleventh and final crewed mission of NASA's Apollo program, the sixth and most recent time humans have set foot on the Moon. Commander Gene Cernan and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt walked on the Moon, while Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans orbited above. Schmitt was the only professional geologist to land on the Moon; he was selected in place of Joe Engle, as NASA had been under pressure to send a scientist to the Moon.

Career & Major Achievements

The mission's heavy emphasis on science meant the inclusion of a number of new experiments, including a biological experiment containing five mice that stayed in orbit with Evans. Mission planners had two primary goals in deciding on the landing site: to sample lunar highland material older than that at Mare Imbrium and to investigate the possibility of relatively recent volcanic activity.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

They therefore selected Taurus–Littrow, where formations that had been viewed and pictured from lunar orbit were thought to be volcanic in nature. Since all three crew members had backed up previous Apollo lunar missions, they were familiar with the Apollo spacecraft and had more time for geology training.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1972: 1972 Milestone — Apollo 17 (December 7–19, 1972) was the eleventh and final crewed mission of NASA's Apollo program, the sixth and most recent time humans have set foot on the Moon.

Notable Quotes by Apollo 17

“The Moon is a scientific laboratory, and we are here to conduct the most thorough geological survey possible.” (1972)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Apollo 17

True or False: “Apollo 17 was the first mission to land on the Moon, establishing the initial scientific foothold for future exploration.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Apollo 17 was actually the sixth and final crewed mission of the Apollo program, not the first. The first crewed landing occurred during the Apollo 11 mission.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A-Mei — Historical peer (Born in 1972) (1972): Iconic Taiwanese singer, producer, and cultural voice of Mandopop.
• Abraham Joshua Heschel — Historical peer (Died in 1972) (1972): Leading 20th-century American rabbi, theologian, and philosopher.
• Apollo 8 — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: First crewed mission to orbit the Moon, seeing Earthrise and the lunar far side.
• Apollo Lunar Module — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The spacecraft that landed men on the Moon during the Apollo program.
• Apollo-Soyuz Test Project — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: First international crewed spaceflight, symbolizing Cold War détente in 1975.
• Apollodorus of Damascus — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Prominent 2nd century Roman Syrian architect and engineer, known for Eastern innovations.

Frequently Asked Questions about Apollo 17