Apollo-17 (33) [40 years Ago, the last one]

National Air and Space Administration ^ | NASA

[SES1066]

The lunar landing site was the Taurus-Littrow highlands and valley area. This site was picked for Apollo 17 as a location where rocks both older and younger than those previously returned from other Apollo missions and from the Luna 16 and 20 missions might be found.

The mission was the final in a series of three J-type missions planned for the Apollo program. These J-type missions can be distinguished from previous G and H-series missions by extended hardware capability, larger scientific payload capacity and by the use of the battery powered Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV).

[SES1066]

33 minutes past Midnight on December 07, 1972, the LAST APOLLO MOON MISSION roared off the KSC in the only Apollo night launch, with the crew of Eugene Cernan, Ronald Evans and Harrison Schmitt. Gene Cernan is still the last man on the moon 40 years later!

[SES1066]

With all due regard to Pearl Harbor and its hero deaths, as a disaster of human expectations, the 40 years and counting hiatus after the triumph of JFK's challenge, may be greater! Now that President Obama has made NASA's mission to be outreach to the Islamic religion, at least there is some 'private enterprise' towards SPACE EXPLOITATION!

My personal view is that we have also lost at least a generation (if not more) of scientists and engineers as children are now exposed to pop culture models taken from America's Idol and the like. Striving for a recording contract trumps reaching for the stars in todays culture is not an improvement in my book!

[no-to-illegals]

Many of the top positions are no longer filled by people born in the U.S.A. Many card holders fill many of those positions formerly held by American born. Do not know the ratio of American born to non-American born, but this does speak well of our citizens that security clearances are going to people not born inside the borders of the U.S.A.

[no-to-illegals]

does speak well should be does NOT speak well. my apology

[Mr. Quarterpanel]

Wanna try landing the LEM?

Here is an awesome simulator.

http://eaglelander3d.com/

It is not as easy as you might think.

[BenLurkin]

Man, our nation sunk since then.

[Moonman62]

Man, our nation sunk since then.

In many ways it has, but our space program was all about catching up to and surpassing the Soviets.