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Apollo 17

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A stunning view of our planet Earth as seen from the Apollo 17 spacecraft during its journey to the Moon.

Apollo 17

Apollo 17 was the last time people visited the Moon. It flew from December 7 to December 19, 1972, as part of NASA’s Apollo program. Three brave astronauts went on this trip.

The Crew

The crew included Commander Gene Cernan, Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt, and Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans. Schmitt was special because he was a geologist, a scientist who studies rocks. He was the only scientist to walk on the Moon.

The Mission

The astronauts spent three days on the Moon. They drove around in a small vehicle called a lunar rover. They collected many rocks and samples. They even found orange soil near a crater! This helped scientists learn more about our Moon.

Apollo 17 set many records. It was the longest Moon landing mission. The crew traveled farther from their spacecraft than any other astronauts. They collected the most Moon rocks and spent the most time on the lunar surface.

Remember Apollo 17

Apollo 17 was a very important mission. It was the final trip of NASA’s Apollo program. After the mission, the astronauts visited many places around the world. Today, you can see parts of their spacecraft in museums. Apollo 17 helped us learn a lot about the Moon and space travel.

Images

The Saturn V rocket on Pad 39-A at dusk, ready for the Apollo 17 mission—the last human flight to the moon.
A silver medallion flown aboard the Apollo 17 spacecraft, showcasing space exploration history.
Astronaut Harrison Schmitt stands next to a large lunar boulder during the Apollo 17 mission. The Lunar Roving Vehicle is parked nearby, with the Moon's surface and distant mountain ranges visible in the background.
The official emblem of the Apollo 17 lunar mission, featuring the Greek god Apollo, an American eagle, and celestial bodies like the moon and Saturn.
A view of the Apollo 17 landing site on the Moon, showing lunar surface features and spacecraft remnants from one of NASA's final moon missions.
Astronaut Eugene Cernan practices field geology training in Sudbury, Canada, preparing for the Apollo 17 mission.
Astronauts prepare for a moon mission simulation in a training facility.
The Apollo 17 lunar rover at its resting place on the Moon, with the Lunar Module in the background.
A photograph of the Apollo 17 spacecraft's scientific instrument module taken from the lunar module during the mission.
The launch of Apollo 17, showcasing NASA's historic space mission.
A view of the Taurus-Littrow valley on the Moon from the Apollo 17 mission, with the lunar module and Earth’s horizon visible.
Astronaut Eugene Cernan stands on the Moon during the Apollo 17 mission, holding the American flag.

Related articles

Apollo
Moon
NASA
Apollo program

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Apollo 17, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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