They Shot for the Moon
Gene Cernan
The last to stand on
lunar soil.
With the landing
of Apollo XVII on December 17, 1972, America closed the book on the Apollo
missions. Gene Cernan was the last man to leave the moon.
"As I take these
last steps from the surface for some time in the future to come, I'd like
to record that America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of
tomorrow. And as we leave the moon and Tarus-Littrow, we leave as we
came, and, God willing, as we shall return with peace and hope for all
mankind. God Speed the crew of Apollo 17." Gene Carnan's last words
from the surface of the moon.
