439. [Apollo 17] CSM AMERICA REUNITING WITH LM CHALLENGER IN LUNAR ORBIT FOR HUMANITY'S FINAL RETURN TO EARTH (NASA's own copy, used and annotated, for the preparation of its final Apollo science report) Harrison Schmitt or Eugene Cernan, 7-19 December 1972 Printed 1972. Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS17-145-22257]. Original editorial labels in the white margins on the recto for publication in NASA's Apollo 17 Preliminary Science Report (NASA SP-330), with "A Kodak Paper" watermark and traces of previous mounting on the reverse, numbered "NASA AS17-145-22254" in red in the top margin (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas), together with an original NASA sheet indicating directives and notes (figure 4-55) for publication in the report. 20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.) Historical context One of the final images of a manned spacecraft above the Moon. In this extraordinary photograph, taken during Apollo 17's 52nd lunar orbit, the Command and Service Module America drifts above the barren lunar surface as it awaits the return of Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt from the LM Challenger. Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans, who holds the record for the longest time spent in lunar orbit—6 days, 3 hours, and 48 minutes—was on board America, alone in orbit while his crewmates explored the surface. The reflective outer surface of the Command Module mirrors the stark contrast between the bright lunar terrain and the deep blackness of space. From this point, the Apollo 17 crew would dock, transfer back into America, and jettison Challenger before firing their engine for trans-Earth injection, beginning their journey home. "When we got back in that Command Module, we were home. Never mind that we were in lunar orbit, it was home." — Eugene Cernan (Chaiken, Voices, p. 117) This image was captured from Challenger before docking, using the lunar surface Hasselblad 500 EL Data Camera equipped with a 60mm lens and a reseau plate. The exposed Scientific Instrument Module (SIM) bay of the Service Module is visible, housing the Mapping and Panoramic Cameras. [Apollo 17 Preliminary Science Report caption] FIGURE 4-55. -The CSM viewed from the LM. While station-keeping before docking with the LM on revolution 52, the CMP manoeuvred the CSM to allow inspection of the SIM bay by the LM crew. The mapping camera film cassette, retrieved by the CMP during TEC, is under the dark cover in the near left corner of the SIM bay. The panoramic camera film cassette is under the square dark cover directly behind the mapping camera cassette. The docking probe is at the apex of the CM. The view is to the southeast; the number "23" at the bottom of the picture is centred in the crater Lick on the southern edge of Mare Crisium. The dark lunar surface area on the horizon at the upper right is Mare Fecunditatis (AS17-145-22257). From the mission transcript when the photograph was taken: 189:55:00 Mission Control: Challenger, America, that's good on the inspection from questions from here, anyway. Clear to continue and proceed with docking. 189:55:12 Evans: Okay. Literature Apollo 17 Preliminary Science Report (NASA SP-330), p. 4-55