DECEMBER 14, 1972 - TODAY IN AVIATION HISTORY

The Ascent Stage of the Apollo 17 Lunar Module Challenger lifted off from the landing location in the Taurus-Littrow Valley, The Moon, at 4:54:36 p.m. CST (Houston time). Mission Commander Eugene A. Cernan and LM Pilot Harrison H. Schmitt were on board.

The two astronauts had spent 3 days, 2 hours, 59 minutes, and 40 seconds on the Moon's surface. They went outside the lunar lander three times during that time, for a total of 22 hours, 3 minutes, and 57 seconds.

Apollo 17 was the twentieth century's final manned trip to the Moon. Gene Cernan was the final man to walk on the Moon's surface.