Dec 7 1972
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President Nixon sent message to Apollo 17 crew following successful launch: "With the final mission of the Apollo lunar exploration series man completes another step in his quest for knowledge of his universe and of himself. Those who come after will stand on the shoulders of the men of Apollo and their dedicated support team. I wish you good luck and Godspeed." (PD, 12/11/72, 1734-5)
Scientist-Astronaut Harrison H. Schmitt was calmest of Apollo 17 astronauts at launch time, United Press International reported. His heart-beat at liftoff was 115 beats per minute, with 130 for Astronauts Eugene A. Cernan and Ronald E. Evans. Apollo 16 rates had been 108 for Astronaut John W. Young, 115 for Astronaut Thomas K. Mattingly II, and 130 for Astronaut Charles M. Duke. Launch Director Walter J. Kapryan had said Apollo 17 crew was more tense because of liftoff delay. (C Trib, 12/8/72)
Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator, assessed Apollo program's meaning to U.S, in Associated Press interview published by Today: "Scientifically, it has allowed us to start obtaining a clear picture of what the moon is like, how it functions, its dynamics, how it has evolved and its relationship to the sun and our earth." After all Apollo data had been evaluated, "it may help us understand how our planet evolved from an uninhabited place." Apollo had "allowed us to see our earth as it really is" and "made a lot of people start talking about ecology and the need to preserve this fragile planet." When man first walked on moon "it gave Americans renewed confidence in them-selves. They knew their country could really put together a complex program and do what it says it will do within the price it said it would cost." (Benedict, AP, Today, 12/7/72)
Newspaper editorials commented on successful launch of Apollo 17: New York Times: "It is still a breathtaking concept, though five teams of astronauts have successfully accomplished similar feats since Apollo 11 made its historic breakthrough in July 1969. The near-catastrophe which forced abortion of the Apollo 13 mission provides a useful reminder of the dangers involved despite all the exquisitely painstaking care taken before blast-off." Astronauts had "special qualities which set them apart. Some day .. taking a rocket to the moon will be as common as taking a plane to London is today. But the Apollo pioneers who have blazed the way had to have a special degree of competence and courage to embark on this extraordinary journey." (NYT, 12/7/72)
President Nixon announced intention to nominate John A. Volpe to be U.S. Ambassador to Italy and Claude S. Brinegar to succeed Volpe as Secretary of Transportation. Nominations were sent to Senate Jan. 4. (PD, 12/11/72, 1735; 1/8/72, 12)
December 7-19: Apollo 17 (AS-512), sixth and last successful NASA manned lunar landing mission, carried three-man crew-including first scientist-astronaut in space-to moon's Taurus-Littrow region after first nighttime launch. Lunar module Challenger (LM-12) landed on moon Dec. 11 and two astronauts deployed experiments, rode Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) , and explored lunar surface during 75-hr stay. Challenger rejoined orbiting command and service module America (CSM-114) in lunar orbit Dec. 14 for safe return to earth with record 115 kg (250 lbs) of lunar samples Dec. 19.
December 7-10: Launch from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39, Pad A, by Saturn V launch vehicle was delayed 2 hrs 40 min. Automatic cutoff at T minus 30 sec in countdown required recycle and hold at T minus 22 min; additional hold was called at T minus 8 min. Holds were caused when terminal countdown sequencer failed to command pressurization of S-IVB liquid-oxygen tank. Tank was pressurized manually, but failure to arm tank's pressurized interlock prevented continuation of launch events until interlock was bypassed by jumper. Workaround was first thoroughly analyzed at Marshall Space Flight Center. Investigation later indicated cause of failure was defective diode on printed circuit card in sequencer.
Spacecraft-carrying Astronauts Eugene A. Cernan (commander), Ronald E. Evans (command module pilot), and Dr. Harrison H. Schmitt (lunar module pilot and geologist)-was launched at 12:33 am EST Dec. 7, with illumination from S-IC 1st stage creating brilliance of morning sun. Liftoff, witnessed by crowd estimated at 500 000 and by nationwide and foreign TV viewers, was visible to naked eye as far as South Carolina to north and Cuba to south.
Spacecraft and S-IVB combination entered parking orbit with 170- km (105.6-mi) apogee and 168-km (104.4-mi) perigee. Following checkout, spacecraft was inserted into trajectory for moon at 3:13 ground elapsed time (GET) as planned. CSM separation from LM/S-IVB/IU at 3:42 GET and docking with LM at 3:57 GET were shown on TV. During docking possible ring latch malfunction was indicated. Trouble-shooting revealed latches 7, 9, and 10 were unlocked. Latch 10 was locked by pushing on handle; latches 7 and 9 were locked and manually fired to lock handles. Following hatch replacement, CSM/LM combination was ejected from S-IVB stage at 4:45 GET. S-IVB lunar impact maneuver targeted stage to strike moon's surface Dec. 10.
Midcourse correction (MCC-1) was not necessary because of nominal trajectory. MCC-2 maneuver was performed on time at 35:30 GET, changing velocity 3 m per sec (9.9 fps). Cernan and Schmitt entered LM at 40:10 GET and discovered docking latch 4 improperly latched. Evans moved latch handle 30°45°, disengaging hook from docking ring. Mission Control and flight crew decided to wait until second LM entering at 59:59 GET for further action on latch. Remainder of LM housekeeping was nominal and LM was closed out at 42:11 GET.
Heat flow and convection demonstrations were conducted as planned; results were satisfactory. MCC-3 and -4 were not required because of near-nominal trajectory. LM housekeeping was resumed at 59:59 GET and completed at 62:16 GET with all systems nominal. Evans, following ground instructions, stroked docking latch 4 handle and succeeded in cocking latch. Latch was left in cocked position for CSM-LM rendezvous.
Planned trajectory was modified continually because of late liftoff; coast toward moon was accelerated to ensure arrival of spacecraft at lunar orbit insertion (LOI) at scheduled GMT time. GET clock was updated 2 hrs 40 min at 65:00 GET to place all events on original flight plan schedule. Crew began one-hour visual-light-flash phenomenon observation at 68:19 GET and reported seeing bright to dull light flashes. Cernan reported continuing gas pains during private consultation via separate radio link with Dr. W. Royce Hawkins, Manned Spacecraft Center Deputy Director of Life Sciences for Medical Operations. He was told to continue taking antigas pills and to alter diet. Crew jettisoned scientific instrument module (SIM) door at 84:12 GET and said SIM bay looked good.
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