Apollo 17 facts for kids

The Apollo 17 mission patch.

Apollo 17 was a very important space mission. It was the last time humans traveled to the Moon. NASA, America's space agency, launched this mission.

The mission began on December 7, 1972. Three brave astronauts were on board: Eugene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt, and Ronald Evans. Four days later, on December 11, 1972, Cernan and Schmitt became the last people to ever land on the Moon. Ronald Evans stayed in orbit around the Moon in the main spacecraft.

The Journey to the Moon

Blasting Off and Traveling to Space

Many people, about 500,000, watched the launch of Apollo 17. A giant Saturn V rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in America.

The powerful Saturn V rocket launching Apollo 17 into space.

About two hours after leaving Earth, the part of the rocket carrying the astronauts separated. This part had two main sections. One was the Apollo Command Module, named America. This was the control spaceship that stayed in orbit. The other was the Apollo Lunar Module, named Challenger. This was the special spaceship designed to land on the Moon.

Three days later, the team reached lunar orbit, meaning they were circling the Moon. A day after that, the Challenger separated from America. The Challenger then landed safely on the Moon. Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt were inside.

Images for kids

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  The three Apollo 17 astronauts (left to right): Harrison Schmitt, Eugene Cernan, and Ronald Evans.

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  The Saturn V rocket ready for launch.

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  The famous "The Blue Marble" photo of Earth, taken by Apollo 17.

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  Eugene Cernan on the Moon, photographed by Harrison Schmitt.

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  Eugene Cernan driving the Lunar Rover on the Moon.

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  Apollo 17 space-flown silver Robbins medallion.

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  The landing site and nearby area, seen from the Apollo 17 command module in 1972.

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  Gene Cernan practicing geology skills in Sudbury, Ontario, in May 1972.

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  Cernan (seated, right) and Schmitt in a training Lunar Roving Vehicle, August 1972.

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  The Apollo 17 Lunar Roving Vehicle parked on the Moon after its final use.

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  The Apollo 17 SIM bay on the service module America, seen from the Lunar Module Challenger in lunar orbit.

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  A combined image of Harrison Schmitt working near Tracy's Rock during his third Moonwalk.

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  A view of Mare Orientale from the Command Service Module, showing how Earthlight lit up the Moon's surface at night.

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  Apollo 17 recovery operations after splashing down in the ocean.

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  The Apollo 17 command module America, on display at Space Center Houston.

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  A Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter image from 2011 of the Apollo 17 mission site. The Challenger descent stage is in the center.

See also

In Spanish: Apolo 17 para niños