Apollo 17's Moonship
Credit & Copyright: Apollo 17,
NASA
(Image scanned by Kipp Teague)
Explanation:
Awkward and angular looking, Apollo 17's lunar module
Challenger was
designed for flight in the vacuum of space.
This sharp picture from the command module
America, shows Challenger's ascent stage in lunar orbit.
Small reaction control thrusters are at the sides of
the moonship with the bell of the
ascent rocket engine itself underneath.
The hatch allowing
access to the lunar surface is visible in the front
and a round radar antenna appears at the top.
This spaceship performed gracefully, landing on
the moon and returning
the Apollo astronauts to the orbiting command module in December
of 1972 - but
where is Challenger now?
Its descent stage remains at the Apollo 17 landing site,
Taurus-Littrow.
The ascent stage was intentionally crashed nearby
after being jettisoned from the command module prior to
the astronauts' return to planet Earth.
Apollo 17's mission
was the sixth and last time astronauts
have landed on the moon.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
