Only twelve people have ever walked on the moon, and the last one to do so in 1972 was Eugene Cernan, commander of the last human mission to the moon, Apollo 17. Cernan passed away last night at the age of 82 in Houston, Texas.
Apollo 17 stayed on the moon’s surface for three days, collecting lunar samples and deploying scientific instruments. A lot of pictures were taking before, during and after the mission of Cernan and his companions, and what better way to commemorate the last man on the moon than by looking back on this amazing imagery?
As spotlights play on the rocket and launch pad at dusk, the last moon shot, Apollo 17, is pictured here awaiting its December 1972 night launch.
Apollo 17 was the first nighttime liftoff of the Saturn V launch vehicle. A two-hour and 40-minute hold delayed the launching.
Commander Eugene Cernan is holding the lower corner of the American flag on the moon’s surface on December 12, 1972. Team member Harrison Schmitt took the photo while making sure to include the earth in the background.
When the flag was planted, Eugene Cernan could go for a lunar stroll. He and his crew spent almost 75 hours on the moon’s surface, conducted nearly 22 hours of extravehicular activities (EVAs), and traveled almost 19 miles in the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV).
After each moonwalk, Eugene Cernan’s spacesuit is covered with lunar dust.
When legs got tired, Eugene Cernan could drive the team’s Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV).
Talk about a fun ride!
View of the Earth as seen by the Apollo 17 crew. It was the first time an Apollo trajectory made it possible to photograph the South polar ice cap.
But all good things come to an end. After three days, the lunar module had to make its way back to the command and service module.
On Dec 19, 1972, the Apollo 17 spacecraft glided to a safe splashdown 648 kilometers southeast of American Samoa.
In 2012, the last man to walk the moon attended the funeral of the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong.
All images were used with permission from NASA. You can a more elaborate gallery here.