Cernan • Evans • Schmitt

Gene Cernan was the last man to walk on the Moon, and Apollo 17 was the final Apollo mission and the crowning achievement of the entire Apollo program. The mission set numerous Apollo program records, including the longest mission, the greatest amount of time on the Moon's surface, the largest lunar samples, and the longest period orbiting the Moon. The universally recognized “Blue Marble” photograph of Earth was taken during this flight. It was also the only nighttime Apollo launch. The crew included Harrison Schmitt, the only scientist and professional geologist to land on the Moon. To further understanding of the Moon's composition, Schmitt and Cernan collected ancient lunar rocks and soil from 22 locations, bringing home 741 separate samples that weighed almost 250 pounds.

Huntsville, Alabama · United States