NASA's Apollo 17 mission, which ultimately marked the end of the Apollo program, successfully returned to Earth on December 23, 1972. This historic mission included astronauts Eugene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt, and Ronald Evans, who completed the last human landing on the Moon.

Apollo 17 featured a diverse crew, with Harrison Schmitt being the first and only scientist-astronaut to land on the Moon. The crew conducted extensive geological studies, bringing back hundreds of pounds of lunar samples.

The mission set new records, including the longest stay on the lunar surface and the most extensive use of a lunar rover. The excitement of Apollo 17 marked a significant culmination of the Apollo exploration endeavors, driving public interest in space.

After Apollo 17, NASA shifted its focus from lunar exploration to other scientific endeavors, such as the Space Shuttle program, which aimed for long-term human spaceflight and international collaboration in low Earth orbit.

Cernan expressed a poignant farewell to the Moon in his last words spoken there, 'We leave as we came, and, God willing, as we shall return.' His statement emphasized humanity's spirit of exploration and openness to future missions.

Apollo 17's scientific discoveries remain influential, providing key insights into lunar geology. The lunar samples collected continue to be studied today, proving beneficial to ongoing scientific research.

If you could go to the Moon, what would you want to explore or discover?