394. [Apollo 16] JOHN YOUNG WITH THE ROVER AND FLAG IN THE SUNLIT MOONSCAPE OF DESCARTES Charles Duke, 16-27 April 1972, EVA 3 Printed 1972. Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS16-116-18576]. With "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse, numbered "NASA AS16-116-18576" in red in the top margin (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas). 25.4 x 20.3 cm. (10 x 8 in.) Historical context A remarkable scene of human exploration on the Moon, bathed in sunlight. John Young is seen working at the Lunar Rover, parked near the American flag planted in the foreground. The Rover's tire tracks crisscross the surface, marking the astronauts' path through the desolate terrain. Charles Duke took this image as part of a panoramic sequence of Descartes Base from a position west of the Lunar Module Orion's ladder strut (plus-Z in LM coordinates) at the start of the final EVA. As he framed the scene, he commented: "Here we are (at) sleepy little Descartes. [...] Ah, the old U.S. flag. Looks colourful." (See mission transcript.) A vertical streak in the image, caused by lunar dust adhering to the camera's reseau plate, stands as an artifact of exploration—evidence of the challenges and realities of working in the harsh lunar environment, rather than a mere imperfection in this pristine record of Apollo's extraordinary journey on the Moon. From the mission transcript when the photograph was taken: 165:54:58 Duke: (to Young) Okay. Go ahead. I'll take a picture. (Pause) [...] 165:55:34 Duke: Here we are (at) sleepy little Descartes. (Pause) 165:55:46 Duke: Let's see, that's about plus-Z (strut). About (garbled) feet or so. [...] 165:56:13 Young: The big rock bag is on the Hand Tool Carrier (of the rover). And...(Pause) 165:56:30 Duke: Ah, the old U.S. flag. Looks colourful. (Pause) 165:56:42 Young: "Bus A, B, C, and D, close." (Pause) You already got those, huh, Charlie? 165:56:54 Duke: Yeah, I had to turn on the TV for them and it's on external, so...Okay, Tony, pan's complete.