Flight Director Eugene Krantz oversaw the Apollo program's central nervous system--Mission Control in Houston. His professionalism and expertise were instrumental in the success of the lunar missions. Here Krantz (center) discusses the launch of Apollo 17--the last of the Moon missions--with colleagues. APOLLO 17 The Apollo program's last human exploration of the Moon occurred Dec. 11-14, 1972. Astronauts Eugene A. Cernan and Harrison H. "Jack" Schmitt performed three separate Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) in the Taurus Mountain- Littrow Crater region of Mare Serenitatis. During the three EVAs, totaling a record 22 hours 6 minutes, Cernan and Schmitt collected 112 kilograms (247 pounds) of material for return to Earth. They also drove a lunar roving vehicle approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles). APOLLO 17 SPACE SUIT This is the space suit worn by Astronaut Eugene A. Cernan during the Apollo 17 mission. Cernan was the last man to leave the Moon. The suit is complete except for the portable life-support system, which was left on the Moon to conserve weight. This suit is a more advanced version of the type worn by Apollo 11 astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin. It contains a layer of aluminized, gridded Kapton film for additional protection. The red stripes identify Cernan as the mission commander. This identification system was first used during the Apollo 13 mission. Apollo 17 ALSEP |
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