Sep 29

Space Rocket History #373 – Apollo 17 – The Launch

At 12:33 A.M. Dec. 7th 1972, “the hold-down arms released and the mighty Saturn V stirred, balanced on a dazzling fireball that grew to the size of an atomic bomb. As a show-stopping spectacular, nothing in the entire space program compared to the night launch.”  Gene Cernan

Lift-Off

Cleared the Tower

Climb to Orbit

 

 

 

 

Sep 15

Space Rocket History #372 – Apollo 17 – Glitches

By the time they reached the elevator, Cernan felt absolutely charmed, and was grinning from ear to ear. His Saturn V sparkled like a 363-foot-high jewel rampant against the night sky, center stage and draped in spotlights.  

Sep 01

Space Rocket History #371 – Apollo 17 – Commander Eugene Cernan

Flight director Gene Kranz wrote that Cernan was his favorite because of his carefree and jovial attitude, unabashed patriotism, and his close personal relationship with the flight controllers.