Apollo 17
Apollo 17: Land in the Taurus-Littrow valley and investigate materials from both the lunar highlands and the valley floor
Apollo 17 was the final crewed lunar landing of the Apollo program and its most extensive scientific surface . Eugene Cernan and geologist Harrison Schmitt spent more than three days in the Taurus-Littrow valley, completed three traverses, deployed the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package, and collected about 110 kilograms of samples while Ronald Evans operated the command module America in lunar orbit.
Mission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
Places and recovery
Mission record
Assignment Manifest
The flight crew and the backup team assigned to train for this mission.
Prime crew
3 assignments
Eugene A. Cernanprime crewCommanderLaunched December 7, 1972Returned December 19, 197212 days, 13 hours, 51 minutes, 59 secondsLed Taurus-Littrow exploration and became the last Apollo astronaut to walk on the Moon.Open astronaut archive
Ronald E. Evans Jr.prime crewCommand Module PilotLaunched December 7, 1972Returned December 19, 197212 days, 13 hours, 51 minutes, 59 secondsOperated America in lunar orbit and conducted orbital science during Apollo 17.Open astronaut archive
Harrison Hagan Schmittprime crewLunar Module PilotLaunched December 7, 1972Returned December 19, 197212 days, 13 hours, 51 minutes, 59 secondsExplored Taurus-Littrow as Apollo's first professional geologist on the Moon.Open astronaut archiveBackup crew
Trained for the mission but did not count as flown unless reassigned to the prime crew.
John W. YoungBackup CommanderFinal backup crew, effective July 1972.Open astronaut archive
Stuart A. RoosaBackup Command Module PilotFinal backup crew, effective July 1972.Open astronaut archive
Charles M. Duke Jr.Backup Lunar Module PilotFinal backup crew, effective July 1972.Open astronaut archive
David R. ScottOriginal Backup CommanderOriginal backup crew; replaced before launch.Open astronaut archive
Alfred M. WordenOriginal Backup Command Module PilotOriginal backup crew; replaced before launch.Open astronaut archive
James B. IrwinOriginal Backup Lunar Module PilotOriginal backup crew; replaced before launch.Open astronaut archiveMission Purpose
4 sources- Land in the Taurus-Littrow valley and investigate materials from both the lunar highlands and the valley floor.
- Complete three -supported geology traverses and return a large, carefully documented collection of lunar samples.
- Deploy and operate the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package and additional surface instruments.
- Conduct orbital photography, mapping, and scientific measurements from the command and America.
Planned Flight Plan
4 sources- December 7, 1972
Apollo 17 begins
America and Challenger was assigned to Land in the Taurus-Littrow valley and investigate materials from both the lunar highlands and the valley floor.
- Primary phase
Complete three -supported geology traverses and return a large, carefully documented collection of lunar samples
Command and : America (CSM-114); Lunar module: Challenger (LM-12); Surface mobility: Lunar Roving Vehicle 3
- Mission objective
Deploy and operate the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package and additional surface instruments
Apollo 17 operated within Apollo to pursue the program objective.
- December 19, 1972
Apollo 17 outcome
Apollo 17 concluded with the recorded status Completed: Apollo 17: Land in the Taurus-Littrow valley and investigate materials from both the lunar highlands and the valley floor.
Mission Timeline
4 sources- December 7, 1972
Apollo 17 begins
America and Challenger began Apollo 17 to Land in the Taurus-Littrow valley and investigate materials from both the lunar highlands and the valley floor.
Open operation record - Operations
Complete three -supported geology traverses and return a large, carefully documented collection of lunar samples
Command and : America (CSM-114); Lunar module: Challenger (LM-12); Surface mobility: Lunar Roving Vehicle 3
- Defining result
Apollo 17: Land in the Taurus-Littrow valley and investigate materials from both the lunar highlands and the valley floor
Apollo 17 was the final crewed lunar landing of the Apollo program and its most extensive scientific surface .
- December 19, 1972
Apollo 17: Completed
Conduct orbital photography, mapping, and scientific measurements from the command and service module America.