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December 14, 1972. 44 years ago. Apollo 17 blasts off from the lunar surface. Eugene Cernan becomes the final man to set foot on the Moon as he follows Harrison Schmitt back into the Lunar Module to prepare for ascent. One week prior, Apollo 17 launched from Cape Canaveral atop a Saturn V rocket, beginning the final Apollo moon mission. Onboard the flight was Commander Eugene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt. The Lunar Module nicknamed Challenger touched down in the lunar highlands in the area of Mare Imbrium, an area known for high volcanic activity at 1455 EST on December.11/1972. While stationed on the Moon, Cernan and Harrison conducted three moonwalks to collect samples of suspected volcanic rock and soil, and plant seismic charges for the purpose of underground mapping to be detonated after departure back to Earth. The two astronauts also set up several pieces of equitment for measuring Earth’s gravity. One of the most intriguing discoveries made during t