Apollo 17 s Moonship
Explanation:
Awkward and angular looking,
Apollo 17's
lunar
module Challenger
was designed for flight in the near vacuum of space.
Digitally enhanced and reprocessed,
this picture taken from Apollo 17's
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 underneath.
The hatch allowing access
to the lunar surface is seen at the front,
with a round radar antenna at the top.
Mission commander Gene Cernan is clearly visible through the triangular
window.
This spaceship performed gracefully, landing on the Moon
and returning the Apollo astronauts to the orbiting command module
in December of 1972.
So
where is Challenger now?
Its descent stage remains at the Apollo 17 landing site in the
Taurus-Littrow valley.
The ascent stage pictured was intentionally crashed nearby
after being jettisoned from the command module prior to
the astronauts'
return
to planet Earth.
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.
