50th Anniversary of NASA's Apollo 17 Moon Mission

Apollo 17 was the final mission of NASA's Apollo program, launched on December 7, 1972. It was the sixth manned mission to land on the Moon and the last to date. The mission's primary objectives were to conduct scientific research on the lunar surface and to explore the Taurus-Littrow region. The crew consisted of Commander Eugene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans, and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt.
Apollo 17 marked several significant milestones, including being the first night launch of a U.S. human spaceflight and the longest lunar landing mission, lasting a little over 12 days. The crew conducted three moonwalks, during which they collected rock and soil samples, deployed scientific instruments, and performed various experiments. Notably, Harrison Schmitt, a geologist, became the first professional scientist to set foot on the Moon.
The mission brought back valuable data and samples that provided insights into the Moon's geology, history, and composition. Apollo 17's successful return marked the conclusion of the Apollo program, which had the overarching goal of landing humans on the Moon and bringing them back safely to Earth.