Description:Apollo 17 AB Emblem patch. This version has a grey background around the outer text, the eagle outline is in pale blue instead of white, and the planet Saturn above the eagle's head is missing the white center present in the Crew Patch.
Apollo 17:Apollo 17 was the eleventh and final manned mission of NASA's Apollo program and the sixth mission to successfully land astronauts on the Moon. Launched on December 7, 1972, it marked the end of the Apollo era and concluded with significant scientific achievements.
The crew of Apollo 17 included astronauts Eugene Cernan, Ronald Evans, and Harrison Schmitt. Cernan and Schmitt descended to the lunar surface in the Lunar Module, named "Challenger," while Evans remained in lunar orbit aboard the Command Module, named "America."
The Lunar Module landed in the Taurus-Littrow Valley on December 11, 1972. Cernan and Schmitt conducted three moonwalks, spending a total of 22 hours outside the spacecraft. They collected a rich variety of lunar samples, including orange soil and volcanic rock, which were unlike any previously obtained.
Apollo 17 marked the first time a professional scientist (Schmitt) set foot on the Moon. Schmitt, a geologist, conducted detailed geological surveys, collected diverse samples, and utilized his scientific expertise to maximize the mission's scientific returns.
The crew deployed various scientific instruments, including a surface electrical properties experiment, a lunar seismic profiling experiment, and a lunar atmospheric composition experiment. They also made important observations and measurements related to the Moon's geology, surface features, and magnetic field.
After completing their lunar activities, the crew returned to the Command Module and began their journey back to Earth. They splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean on December 19, 1972. This final Apollo mission brought an end to the manned lunar exploration program.
More information:Crew Patch Reference Guide: Apollo 17 
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