Today is...the Anniversary of the Launch of Apollo 17

On this day in 1972, Apollo 17 was launched. This was the last US manned mission to the moon.

Apollo 17 was the sixth mission to land humans on the moon.

The launch was on December 7, 1972 at 12:33 am from Kennedy Space Center.

Kennedy Space Center, located on Merritt Island, Florida, has been the launch site for ever human space flight in the US since 1968.

There have been twelve people to walk on the moon: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Pete Conrad, Alan Bean, Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, David Scott, James Irwin, John W. Young, Charles Duke, Eugene Cernan, and Harrison Schmitt.

Eugene Cernan was the last person to touch the lunar surface.

Apollo 17 broke numerous records: longest manned lunar landing flight, longest total lunar surface extravehicular activities, largest lunar sample return, and longest time in lunar orbit.

After spending 7 hours and 15 minutes outside during the final lunar excursion Gene Cernan said: "As I take man's last step from the surface, back home for some time to come - but we believe not too long into the future - I'd like to just (say) what I believe history will record. That America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow. And, as we leave the Moon at Taurus- Littrow, we leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind. 'Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17.'"

Where would you like to go in space?