{"id":1907,"date":"2018-03-16T02:44:43","date_gmt":"2018-03-16T06:44:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/?page_id=1907"},"modified":"2020-02-15T18:43:09","modified_gmt":"2020-02-15T23:43:09","slug":"chapter-9-the-12th-man","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/1-apollo-17-diary-of-the-12th-man\/b-chapters-1-9\/chapter-9-the-12th-man\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 9 – The 12th Man"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 9 <\/strong><\/p>\n

The 12th<\/sup> Man[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"The Lunar Module (LM) Challenger <\/em>at the beginning of the first extravehicular activity (EVA) shortly after touchdown at 01:55 p.m. EST on December 11, 1972. In the background at right is the eastern slope of the South Massif. To the left of the left-most LM strut is the small hill, Bear Mountain. Note the line of deep footprints and dark spray pattern on either side of them crossing the view in the foreground (also see 9.11<\/strong><\/a> from LRO for overhead views of similar tracks). (Partial pan of NASA photos AS17-147-22516, -22517.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 6 \u2013 After Landing<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Challenger<\/em> first contacted the lunar surface in the valley of Taurus-Litrow with one of its four, six-foot long collapsible probes attached to each landing pad. So, in that respect, Apollo 17\u2019s first word on the Moon was my call out of \u201cContact\u201d when the blue CONTACT light above and to the right of the DISKEY illuminated (See Appendix A, December 11).<\/p>\n

My immediate \u201cSTOP \u2013 PUSH!\u201d call was a reminder to Cernan to shut off the Descent Engine. Cernan responded, and we dropped to the surface with a thump and slight rocking motion.<\/p>\n

\u201cENGINE STOPPED!\u201d I confirmed, as Challenger<\/em> dropped that last few feet to the lunar surface.<\/p>\n

\u201cENGINE ARM \u2013 [OFF], PROCEED [on DISKEY], COMMAND OVERRIDE \u2013 OFF, MODE CONTROL \u2013 ATT[ITUDE] HOLD, PINGS \u2013 AUTO.\u201d I quickly read off several, rapid-fire, post-Contact checklist actions necessary to insure that Challenger<\/em> was in a safe condition for any possible early abort. Cernan took the necessary actions without comment as I watched carefully. Cernan recalls only silence after touchdown;[2]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> however, in fact, we continued to be busy following the procedures ingrained into us by many, many simulator runs.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Houston. The Challenger has landed!\u201d were Cernan\u2019s first words from the valley.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Challenger<\/em>. That\u2019s super!\u201d<\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

The relentless clock moved on. The elation of a successful landing and anticipation of all that was to come spread through Challenger\u2019s<\/em> cabin by look and action. We rushed to safe the spacecraft systems and impatiently awaited the words that would direct us to proceed with the planned mission or, heaven forbid, send us immediately back into orbit because of some technical problem that violated a Mission Rule or otherwise threatened our lives. The relative security of Challenger<\/em> now seemed as confining as a classroom on the last day of school. A familiar, yet still untouched, field area beckoned.[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

Looking ahead, over 45 years later, I am certain that descent to the surface of Mars will not have Mission Rules that require \u201caborts to orbit\u201d and a return to Earth. Engineering and operational designs will permit if not plan for \u201caborts to land.\u201d I cannot imagine that a Mars crew would be required to come home without landing after the time and expense to fly to get there. Rather, once on the surface, they would take time to analyze and deal with any issue that was of immediate concern. If necessary, and after significant delays for roundtrip transmissions, prolonged discussions about the problem, telemetry indications, and the best plan going forward would take place with Mars Mission Control.<\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Parker valves<\/a><\/span>\u2026,\u201d I called out as I reached up to cycle 8 RCS QUAD switches in front of me from the ON position to OFF and then back to ON. These switches were positioned to the left of my window and the black and white \u201ceight ball\u201d Attitude Indicator (FDAI) and controlled 32 fuel and oxidizer valves leading to the 16 RCS jets. The Parker valves could isolate the RCS jets from their fuel and oxidizer supplies. As a result of early shock tests, concern had been raised that a Parker valve might close with the shock of landing. As far as anyone knows, that never happened, but to make absolutely sure that the RCS jets all had access to propellants, I cycled the switches the first thing after landing. Meanwhile, Cernan had a chance to get all excited without me fully joining in.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoy, you bet it is, Gordo\u2026[Jack], boy, when you said shut down, I shut down, and we dropped, didn\u2019t we?<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir! But we \u2018is\u2019 here, man, is we here! \u2026How does that look?\u201d I asked, pointing to the DESCENT ENGINE fuel and oxidizer indicators.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat looks good.\u201d Cernan said. We had landed with almost two minutes of hover time left. That may not seem like much, but it would have been plenty if, at the last moment, he had to maneuver to an alternate touchdown location.<\/p>\n

\u201c[RCS] Pressures look great. Tank 2 is down just a little from before,\u201d I replied, pointing to the two needles on the RCS tanks pressure gage.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Engine Override is OFF,\u201d Cernan confirmed my earlier call out and verified that the MODE CONTROL switches for PINGS and AGS were in ATT[ITUDE] HOLD and AUTO, again, in case we had to leave quickly using either control system.<\/p>\n

\u201c[RCS] Manifold [pressure] is great. Manifold is right on. Go to JETS [on your TTCA],\u201d I read, referring to Cernan\u2019s left hand controller.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. I am [in] JETS.\u201d This needed to be in JETS, meaning RCS control, rather than THROTTLE where it had controlled thrust of the DESCENT ENGINE. If we aborted, the thrust direction of the Ascent Engine would be controlled by the orientation of the Ascent Stage as the Ascent Engine, unlike the Descent Engine, had a fixed nozzle rather than one that could be adjusted (gimbled) automatically or manually.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. That [Cue Card] side\u2019s complete,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHouston, you can tell America<\/em> that Challenger is at Taurus-Littrow,\u201d Cernan suggested, referring to Evans in orbit above us.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Challenger; this is America<\/em>. I heard you all the way down. That\u2019s great! Beautiful!\u201d interjected Evans. He had remained in line-of-sight radio communications all through Challenger\u2019s<\/em> descent and landing.<\/p>\n

\u201cRon, I had the meatball all the way,\u201d Cernan added, speaking as one former carrier pilot to another and referring to the visual aid on a carrier that assisted in landing. He meant that he had been right on track all the way to landing, choosing to ignore the high rate of descent that might have resulted in a \u201cwave-off\u201d had he been landing on a carrier with enough fuel to try again. The actual touchdown on the Moon, however, was perfectly executed.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeautiful!\u201d responded Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cJack, are we going to have some nice boulders in this area.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. The old [16-mm sequence] camera\u2019s off,\u201d I said, ignoring Cernan\u2019s premature look at where we hoped we would be able to explore<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

Continuing with the Post-Touchdown Checklist, I reported, \u201cLANDING RADAR [CIRCUIT] BREAKER, OPEN. Checking the [Ascent and Descent] water [tanks]. \u2026And, Gordy, [looking at] ASCENT TANK 1…We started out a little low [and] it\u2019s still\u2026 [in the] same place. That\u2019s [the tank for] water.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Jack,\u201d replied our CAPCOM for descent and landing, Gordon Fullerton. Without reporting verbally, I also cycled the Ascent Helium Monitor switch, to be sure the tank\u2019s pressure sensor was working, and checked the Ascent and Descent propellant temperatures. We would watch the Descent propellant temperatures until given the okay to vent those tanks.<\/p>\n

[The Ascent Engine, on which we now depended to get back home either urgently or after completing out exploration, was designed and manufactured by Bell Aerosystems Company under the close supervision of George Low and C. H. Bolender in the Apollo Spacecraft Program Office. The engine\u2019s inheritance goes back to Bell\u2019s RM-81 engine for the Agena rocket, derivatives of which were used in many early unmanned and manned (Gemini) spaceflight programs. In the case of the Lunar Model\u2019s Ascent Engine, however, the engine\u2019s injector used on Apollo 9 (LM-3) and subsequent missions, and manufactured by Rocketdyne, had entered the main stream only about nine months before Neil Armstrong\u2019s first landing on the Moon. Uncertainties in 1968 related to failures in tests of the original Bell injector prompted the substitution of an alternative injector.[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong>]<\/p>\n

\u201cBatteries\u2019 [voltages] look good,\u201d I reported.<\/p>\n

Then, with the immediate checklist items taken care of, I took my first real look at Taurus-Littrow\u2026 \u201cOh, man!! Look at that rock out there!\u201d I probably had just noticed a large, ~3m high boulder directly west and near the site I eventually would choose for the ALSEP deployment (see Figs. 9.1-9.10<\/strong> for my first views of the lunar surface). This boulder later would be called \u201cGeophone Rock\u201d because it was near the line of geophones I deployed as part of the Active Seismic Experiment.<\/p>\n

\"\"Fig. 9.1.<\/strong> This first view looking almost due west from the right window of Challenger<\/em> after landing in the Valley of Taurus-Littrow shows the relatively undisturbed surface, the ALSEP deployment site near the large boulder (Geophone Rock) in the middle ground, and West Family Mountain in the distance at the head of the valley. (NASA Photo AS17-147-22469).<\/span><\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

My first view out the triangular window in front of me, looking west to northwest to east along the valley and across to mountains over 1600 meters high, encompassed only about a quarter of the panorama we expected to have outside the Challenger<\/em>. Only later, when I could walk a few tens of meters away from Challenger<\/em>, did the full and unexpected impact of the remarkable setting hit me: a brilliant sun, brighter than any desert sun; fully illuminated mountain walls outlined against a blacker-than-black sky; and our beautiful, blue and white marbled Earth, with its desert accents, hanging over the imposing South Massif. And we were there and were part of it, if only temporarily.[5]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Fig. 9.2.<\/strong> The adjacent view shows in the distance West Family Mt. (left<\/em>), Family Mt. (middle<\/em>), and the beginnings of the slopes of the North Massif at right. (NASA Photo AS17-147-22470).<\/span><\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely incredible. Absolutely incredible,\u201d expounded Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I can see the rim of Camelot,\u201d I told Fullerton so as to help them locate where we had landed.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEpic moment of my life,\u201d said a now introspective Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019d you land? You never let me look outside at all,\u201d I joked. \u201cHey, you can see the boulder tracks (on the North Massif)!\u201d<\/span> (Figs. 9.3-9.4<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

\"\"Fig. 9.3.<\/strong> Continuing to the right of the previous views, more of the North Massif is visible. Hanover Crater, mentioned later in text, is the small, bright spot just to the right and above the large central fiducial cross and next to a light-colored fault scarp the turns northwest along the lower slope of the North Massif. (NASA Photo AS17-147-22471).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Gordy,\u201d Cernan prodded. \u201cWe\u2019re standing by for your GO [to STAY]. We look good. We\u2019re looking good onboard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. You\u2019re looking great here so far.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are boulders all over those massifs,\u201d I observed, a little surprised that the pre-mission photographs had not shown they were there in abundance. The high sun angle of those photographs limited shadow definition, however.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Fig. 9.4.<\/strong> Further to the right striations, boulders and boulder tracks are visible on the slopes of the North Massif<\/em>. In this view, the slopes are ca. 3.5 km away. (NASA Photo AS17-147-22472).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGod, look at that propellant,\u201d Cernan exclaimed. \u201cWe could have gone all around and looked around.\u201d Certainly, the 117 seconds of hover fuel we ended up with made it more than comfortable for landing; however, Cernan was joking about flying around the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should have hovered around a little bit; gone and looked at the Scarp,\u201d I said, joining in the fun.<\/p>\n

\"\"Fig. 9.5.<\/strong> Returning to the west, these next views show the areas closer to the spacecraft. The bright aureole surrounding the LM shadow is a result of intense direct back-scattering of sunlight from very fine-grained, fluffy upper surface (fairy castle structure) of the impact pulverized debris (regolith) that covers most of the Moon. (NASA Photo AS17-147-22473).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Fig. 9.6.<\/strong> As the view moves away from the anti-solar direction, back-scattering lessens and surface features become more apparent. (NASA Photo AS17-147-22474).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Fig. 9.7.<\/strong> In this next view it is clear that, although the surface is relatively level near the spacecraft, there are many small, shallow craterlets and boulders scattered about. (NASA Photo AS17-147-22475).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Fig. 9.8.<\/strong> This image, just past the northerly direction, shows the furthermost view towards the east on this side of the spacecraft without disembarking. Very oblique views of Henry and Shakespeare Craters can be seen above the vertical reaction control thruster (also see Fig. 9.4<\/strong>). (NASA Photo AS17-147-22476).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Fig. 9.9.<\/strong> The last two views in this and the next photo return to the area under the LMP window next to the right side of the LM. (NASA Photo AS17-147-22477).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Fig. 9.10.<\/strong> Similar to Fig. 9.9<\/strong>. (NASA Photo AS17-147-22478).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, thank you,\u201d Cernan replied, changing his mind while I laughed. \u201cI like it right where we are. \u2026Okay, Gordy. While you\u2019re waiting on that GO, I shot for a spot, around 2 o\u2019clock from Poppie. There\u2019s a number of boulders out at 12 o\u2019clock from Poppie, and I really think I\u2019m probably not more than about 100 meters out in front of it, and slightly to the north. Actually, I may be a little bit closer to Trident than I expected Poppie to be. I think I\u2019ve got Trident right out the left window. And our first cut at the mobility around here in the Rover [indicates] it ought to be super.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Okay. Sounds good,\u201d responded Fullerton. Understandably, due to the similarity of many craters, Cernan had lost track of landmarks as we came in and the actual landing point ended up about 100 m north and 20 m west of Poppie, or 230 m west and 60 m north of the planned, pre-mission landing point.[6]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> (<\/a>Fig. 9.11<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fig. 9.11.<\/strong> (Upper<\/em>): Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera view of the Apollo 17 landing site in the valley of Taurus-Littrow with a resolution of about 0.5 m. (Lower<\/em>): The same with several features identified with labels. Note the location of Poppie Crater, south of the spacecraft. To vary the sun angle, see the LROC website[7]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong>. (NASA LRO NAC image M168000580R).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I tell you, the Massifs<\/em> and Bear Mountain<\/em> are two different products (types of features).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure look it, don\u2019t they?\u201d I agreed. \u2026Of course, they\u2019re different slopes, too.\u201d In looking at surfaces from a distance on the Moon, slopes relative to the Sun have to be taken into account when comparing different features. Future studies would indicate that, indeed, Bear Mountain<\/em> is made up of material much different than the North<\/em> and South Massifs<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019re looking, probably…that may be Rudolph, right there, Jack, out your window. \u2026I was looking more at those boulders [during landing] and trying to stay in the spots in between them than I was…[looking at any] relationship to that crater.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, you did great, Gene. \u2026Man, there was practically no dust, just a little bit of a film. You had the ground all the way to the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. I could call touchdown on the shadow. Look at that\u2026 [We\u2019re] Really here!\u201d Cernan\u2019s comment on the obvious brought a laugh from me.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Gordy, Cernan said, impatiently. We\u2019re hanging in for your GO.\u201d Flight Controllers in Mission Control would take some time to make sure that all the systems and consumables we would need for three days in the valley showed the stability they wanted before making that \u201cGO\u201d commitment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt better be a GO!\u201d I said, emphatically.<\/p>\n

\u201cCheck everything again. Let\u2019s just double check.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d I replied, having continued to do this since landing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat hasn\u2019t changed,\u201d I said, probably pointing to the Ascent Engine fuel and oxidizer tanks pressure and temperature indicators on Panel 2 in front of me, above my Attitude Indicator.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, that\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe [Ascent Engine] manifold [pressure] hasn\u2019t changed. The RCS [pressure] hasn\u2019t changed. Ascent water hasn\u2019t changed. The batteries haven\u2019t changed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, my golly!\u201d Cernan exclaimed as he looked outside once again.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly we have changed,\u201d I mused.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, you can\u2019t see into Camelot, Jack; that rim is Camelot out in front of us. \u2026We got enough room to deploy three ALSEPs out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChallenger<\/em>, you\u2019ll be glad to hear you\u2019re STAY for T-1.\u201d T-1 constituted a pre-programmed launch opportunity at about 17 and a half minutes after start of Powered Descent that would let us catch up with America<\/em> while it was still more or less overhead on its current orbit, but leaving our area, rapidly.<\/p>\n

\u201cGordy, you\u2019re a smooth talker, you know it? We are STAY for T-1.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, [Jack]. You can forget all I told you about Verb 22 Noun 46.\u201d This comment related to changing the DAP (Digital Auto Pilot) configuration in case of a failure of the PNGS MODE CONTROL switch.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Challenger<\/em>, understand [your are] STAY for T-1. Good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was that?\u201d I said, laughing at an unexpected transmission from Evans to Mission Control. I had assumed that he was long gone from direct communications with us.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Let\u2019s find out where we are [in the checklist],\u201d Cernan said. \u201cENGINE STOP is RESET.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d I acknowledged, \u201cthe AGS<\/a><\/span> is ready for us if we need it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. I need a P12 time [from Mission Control] as soon as I get [VERB] 60…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d P12 was the PINGS normal Ascent program and VERB 60 would display attitude error rates on the FDAIs (eightballs) if we had to fly a manual ascent.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Gordy. You\u2019re looking at NOUN 43. Copy that down, Jack, right here.\u201d NOUN 43 provided the PINGS estimate of our landing point latitude, longitude, and altitude.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Fullerton responded. \u201cWe\u2019ve got it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c20:21 [latitude] and 30:75 [longitude], and I\u2019m going to P12\u2026Okay, [Jack]. I need a P12 time from you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor T-2?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor T-2, the time is 113 [hours]…\u201d I took the T-2 time from what we had copied from Fullerton just prior to Descent when they had a good handle on America\u2019s<\/em> orbit and state vector.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, [got it].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c14 [minutes].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c14.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c24 [point] 91 [seconds].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c2491.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir,\u201d I confirmed as Cernan completed the entry under my watchful eye. If we ever had to leave Taurus-Littrow unexpectedly due to some problem, the PINGS and AGS programmed to put us into an orbit below America\u2019s<\/em> so that our greater orbital velocity would let us catch up.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>I can\u2019t feel any difference between one-sixth g and anything else right now,\u201d Cernan commented.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you still got your restraints<\/a><\/span> on,\u201d I replied with a laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. [T-2 time is reading] 113:14:24.91. You happy with that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat looks good, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026I got to change these numbers [in NOUN 76]. \u2026You didn\u2019t get an update on Noun 76, did you? \u2026I don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. No.\u201d I agreed, referring to ascent variables of downrange velocity relative to the landing site, radial velocity relative to the Moon, and cross-range distance relative to America\u2019s<\/em> orbit.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026,\u201d Cernan said, looking at numbers in NOUN 76, \u201c5515\u2026Hello, Gordy. How would you like me to handle R-3 [Register for cross-range] of Noun 76?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStand by. I\u2019ll come back to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026Oh, that [Landing] Radar performed super!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow was the view on the way down, Gene?\u201d I asked with a laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, after we pitched over, I was just looking for a place to land, [so] I\u2019m not sure. I just didn\u2019t want to hit one of those boulders out there- which would have been as easy…And look at that. Look at right in front of us. I didn\u2019t want to land there either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see that one right in front of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou see that? Now that\u2019s a hole!\u201d Cernan is referring to a nearby, relatively shallow crater. With the low sun angle for landing and our descent at a planned higher angle, he could see boulder and crater rim shadows during descent. Once on the surface, however, our line of sight was below the sun angle and we could not see the shadows looking to the west.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, the hole. I can\u2019t see the hole…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChallenger<\/em>, Houston. R-3, cross-range, is okay as is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d I alerted Cernan. \u201cWe\u2019re coming up [on T-2]…\u201d<\/p>\n

Taking my cue, Cernan called, \u201cWe\u2019re in posture for a T-2, Gordy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. I can see the Scarp. I can see Hanover. Good thing we didn\u2019t plan to go to Hanover,\u201d I added, laughing. \u201cIt\u2019s steep [over there].\u201d Hanover consisted of a sharp, relatively fresh-looking impact crater just east of where the Jefferson-Lincoln Scarp turns across the lower slopes of the North Massif. Early in the traverse planning for exploration of the valley we had discussed trying to get to Hanover as a possible way to gather information about the origin of the Scarp; however, the team decided not to try to attempt to reach it due to the required driving distance and time, the steepness of the slope to get there, and the high probability that debris from the slopes above had covered any outcrop (Fig. 9.3<\/strong>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLook at the boulder, halfway up the hill,\u201d Cernan said looking through window in front of me at the slopes of the North Massif, almost due north of the Challenger.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2026, the boulder tracks; they\u2019re beautiful,\u201d I replied, figuratively licking my geological lips.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s sitting right there in the end of the track,\u201d Cernan added.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are tracks all over that hillside.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a boulder [that] came right down to the [valley] surface there. See it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat one (a boulder track) went right through that little crater…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSitting right there for us to sample. Look at it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u201d Cernan had noticed the large boulder that would be a major objective of our activities at Station 6 on the third day\u2019s exploration traverse. I was absorbing the fact that, with these boulder tracks, we could actually sample specific outcrops (I sometimes would refer to these as \u201csource crops\u201d.) on the 2000m high slopes of the North Massif. In 2010, LRO photography showed that the two large boulders we sampled on the third day had rolled from outcrops about 500m apart in elevation.[8]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll bet Bear Mountain and the Sculptured Hills are the same [types of materials],\u201d speculated Cernan. The Sculptured Hills, out of view to the south of the North Massif, have a distinct crosshatched, hill and swale physiographic character compared to the more jumbled surfaces of the Massifs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Well, the [overall] slope\u2019s different [on the Sculptured Hills]. We\u2019ll have to look at it from outside. You may be right.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow [looking only at Bear Mountain] I see why they call them \u2018sculptured\u2019. My god, they\u2019re so hummocky that there\u2019s shadow all over them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGod, there are some holes and rocks around here. Who told me this was a flat landing site?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joking with this hotshot pilot, I responded, \u201cIt is flat! For crying out loud. What do you want? An airtight guarantee?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s see,\u201d Cernan observed from the attitude indicator in front of him, \u201cwe got about 2 degrees left (roll) and about 5 degrees pitch-up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re about what? About 100 meters from Trident?\u201d I speculated. This estimate turned out to be pretty close. In addition to looking at the distant geology of the North Massif, I had been trying to figure out exactly where we had landed relative to the nearby named features.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, less than that. I think Trident\u2019s right here,\u201d Cernan said, continuing to confuse Trident with Poppie.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur (LM) shadow\u2019s about 100 feet (long), Geno, I think,\u201d I stated, using a figure I had asked to have before the mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, we\u2019re only about…Yeah, less than 100 meters then [from the crater].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t look that long, but it is…\u201d All the lunar astronauts found it difficult to estimated distances in this unfamiliar terrain, lighting and clearness. I therefore had asked our support people to calculate some shadow lengths for our landing sun angle and to be ready with other lengths should I need them.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod, there are some holes I\u2019m glad I didn\u2019t land in around here, I\u2019ll tell you\u2026 Now, if you look at the (South) Massif, Jack. I don\u2019t know if you can see it over here. You see, \u2026they\u2019re almost like a series of linear boulder tracks, but they come crossways down the slope. So it looks like there may very definitely be some jointing. \u00a0…There\u2019s outcrop on top the Massif, too.\u201d Cernan has observed the apparent cross-hatched texture of many lunar slopes that has been duplicated as possibly being the result of lighting on the cratered surface of those slopes[9]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Oh, it sure looks like it\u2026[is] gray outcrop,\u201d I agreed. \u201cIt\u2019s a bluish gray compared to the brown- or tan-gray of the [outcrops on the North Massif side.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cernan continued, \u201cAnd a lot of that \u201coutcrop\u201d down on the bottom is boulder.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know what that reminds me of, way up on top…that outcrop? It reminds me of Sunset [Crater] a volcanic cinder cone near Flagstaff, Arizona) where you could just get a little piece of outcrop around the cone.\u201d About five weeks earlier, Cernan had seen basalt splatter layers around the rim of a volcanic crater near Flagstaff, Arizona where we had our last field simulation during training.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d I agreed as to the slight similarity in appearance but a very different geologic context.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Let\u2019s see what we\u2019re doing,\u201d Cernan said, remembering that we had not been given the GO to stay on the Moon. \u201cWe got 3 minutes for T-2. Let\u2019s take another check.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. I just looked at them,\u201d referring to the condition of the various systems we would need to leave. In fact, part of the reason had had not joined vigorously in Cernan\u2019s look around the valley was that monitoring Challenger\u2019s<\/em> pressures and voltages had consumed much of my attention. I wanted to be sure nothing was happening to the Challenger<\/em> that would cause us lose our chance to leave Challenger<\/em> for the lunar surface. The other reason for my terse comments was that I was assimilating as much as I could of the visible geological features in preparation for actually going out to study them.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Ascent (stage) looks good. \u2026Gordy, I noticed something ever since we\u2019ve landed. The Descent Engine oxidizer quantity went from 7 or 8, and now it\u2019s down to 2, and the fuel has stayed constant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the Quantity Light came on somewhere, I believe, after we landed,\u201d Cernan added.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it did,\u201d I agreed. \u201cI noticed the Quantity light also. I was thinking \u2018REG light\u2019, though, when I saw it.\u201d This is the kind of dynamic situation where we would have been waiting for some other confirming indication that we had a problem, either onboard or from Mission Control. Since they did not call out a problem, we continued with the landing. Obviously, we did not run out of oxidizer, so our assumption that it was a sensor problem was correct.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChallenger<\/em>, we\u2019ll have a story on that [Quantity Light] for you later. We don\u2019t think we were really low level.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Cernan replied. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t make any difference now, Gordy; except to talk about when we get home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d The Ascent Engine fuel and oxidizer tanks only provided an \u201cAscent Quantity Caution\u201d light if either quantity dropped below that necessary for 10 more seconds of burn time.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>And we\u2019re 2 minutes and counting to T-2,\u201d Cernan reminded everybody.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/p>\n

I pushed the decision-making a little harder with, \u201cWe better hurry if they\u2019re going to give us the GO. \u2026How about some water?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, you can zap me.\u201d Cernan referred to the water gun that dispensed about an ounce with each trigger pull. We had a self-sealing port in our helmets that allowed the barrel of the gun to be inserted for a drink.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I tell you. That\u2019s something everyone\u2019s got to do once in their life,\u201d Cernan continued to express some wonder that he had landed on the Moon. A mutual friend once had told me that, after becoming an astronaut, Cernan had said that there were two things he wanted: a son and to land on the Moon. Now, he had accomplished one of those goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not going to have much time for T-2,\u201d I urged.<\/p>\n

\u201cChallenger<\/em>, Houston. You\u2019re STAY for T-2, and GO for the DPS (Descent Propulsion System, pronounced “dips”) VENT.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d we said in unison. Venting the fuel and oxidizer tanks of the Descent Engine by venting pressurizing helium would prevent those tanks from rupturing while we were on the Moon. Having toxic hydrazine and nitrous oxide around would not be good for us or for the samples we would take from the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Understand. Stay for T-2, and GO for the DPS VENT. Let me get out of [P12]. \u2026Okay, we can\u2019t hack that. I\u2019m going to get out of P12.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me, Gene,\u201d I interjected, and pointed to the post-landing, Lunar Surface Checklist.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. You can un-zap that water, if you\u2019d like. And let\u2019s go off VOX. Let\u2019s go on PTT. Tape recorder, OFF.\u201d Prematurely, Cernan wanted to leave voice actuation (VOX) for communications with Mission Control and go to manual or push-to-talk (PTT). A big blue PPT button was on the oxygen hose going into the suit so it often became keyed as we move in the cramped space of the cabin. This resulted in some inadvertent, random communications. Our other PPT button was on the right hand attitude controller as also is normally its placement in airplanes. Cernan also wanted the on-board tape recorder (DSE) off. This meant that for the time being, unfortunately, there would be no record of our conversations unless we contacted Fullerton directly. We would turn the recorder back on as we made ready for the first excursion to the surface so that Mission Control could monitor all our preparations.<\/p>\n

But before leaving VOX mode, however, I reported, \u201cRegulator 1 is CLOSED, Houston; OXIDIZER [and] FUEL VENTS coming OPEN.\u201d Being close to the Flight Controllers at the LM CONTROL console in Mission Control, I always wanted them watching over my shoulder when going through critical functions.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMASTER ARM \u2013 ON,\u201d I directed Cernan as per the Checklist. \u201cMASTER ARM\u2019s coming ON,\u201d I repeated as Cernan enabled the pyrotechnic system that would open the tank vents.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Gordo,\u201d Cernan said. \u201cI got two good [System Armed] lights.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDESCENT VENT – FIRE,\u201d I called as Cernan threw the switch that would fire the small Apollo Standard Initiator explosives in the vent lines. These ASIs, as they were often called, had a remarkable record of success and served as the standard initiator for most if not all explosive cutters throughout the Saturn V and the two Apollo spacecraft. ASIs would be used again whenever we separated from the Descent Stage upon leaving Taurus-Littrow.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. MARK it. We did not hear anything on that one, Gordy.\u201d This surprised both of us, but then we still had our helmets on.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPressure\u2019s coming down, though. Pressure\u2019s coming down,\u201d I reported as I monitored the tank pressures.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Okay,\u201d I said as I began the post-VENT checklist items. \u201cMASTER ARM – OFF\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cJack, do we need to wait for the pressures to come down?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll monitor oxidizer pressure until 20 to 40 [psi], and then OX VENT \u2013 CLOSED\u2026fuel pressure to less than 8 [psi]\u2026[then] FUEL VENT \u2013 [CLOSED]\u2026 DESCENT QUANTITY LIGHT…[I mean] REG LIGHT, excuse me, \u2026MODE CONTROL, TWO [switches] to ATT HOLD.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we just keep going, I guess, Cernan said. \u201cYeah. Hey, we can press on\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cVerify INVERTER 2 is selected,\u201d<\/span> I continued, now off VOX; however, I used my PPT button to keep Mission Control informed of where we were in the Checklist. \u201cOkay\u2026Okay. Now wait a minute. Here we go. Let\u2019s get that. Go up here [on the Checklist], first\u2026because I haven\u2019t selected it (INVERTER 2)\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn Panel 11, INVERTER 1 \u2013 OPEN and DECA POWER \u2013 OPEN,\u201d<\/span> I read.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d These actions took power from the Descent Engine Control Assembly that, of course, we no longer would need.<\/p>\n

\u201cGene, you read the Checklist for what I need to do on my side,\u201d<\/span> I suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026ASCENT ECA CONTROL [circuit breaker] \u2013 CLOSED.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cECA CONTROL is CLOSED.\u201d This put the Electrical Control Assembly for the Ascent Engine temporarily on line while I re-configured the Ascent Batteries.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey want Descent BATTERY 3 back ON.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c3 is back ON.<\/p>\n

\u201c[ASCENT] BATTERIES 5 and 6 \u2013 OFF\/RESET. Check that the talk-back is barber pole.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBATTERY 5 is OFF\/RESET, and it\u2019s off the line (barber pole]. BATTERY 6 – OFF\/RESET, and it\u2019s off the line.\u201d As we were now cleared to prepare the Challenger<\/em> for its time on the Moon, baring any unexpected problems, the Ascent Batteries could be taken off line.<\/p>\n

\u201cINVERTER 2 CIRCUIT BREAKER \u2013 IN.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cINVERTER number 2 breaker is IN. \u2026INVERTER 2 [selected]. \u2026Let me check the voltage. Voltage is great. \u2026Okay, Keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn Panel 16, PQGS circuit breaker OPEN\u2026and DESCENT ENGINE OVERRIDE CIRCUIT BREAKER \u2013 OPEN.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[PQGS\u2026and] DESCENT ENGINE OVERRIDE\u2019s OPEN.\u201d PQGS referred to the Propellant Quantity Gaging System for the Descent Engine.<\/p>\n

\u201cASCENT ECA CONTROL CIRCUIT BREAKER \u2013 OPEN.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cASCENT ECA CONTROL\u2019s OPEN.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCWEA (pronounced “seewee) circuit breaker \u2013 OPEN then CLOSE and check Descent Regulator light – OFF.\u201d<\/span> CWEA stands for Caution and Warning Electronics Assembly.<\/p>\n

\u201cCWEA\u2026CYCLED. Both lights are out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026Verify Cabin Pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCabin pressure is good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026PRESSURE REGULATORS A AND B to CABIN.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then, (Pressure Regulators) A and B going to Cabin\u2026A is to Cabin. B is to Cabin.\u201d This action insured that the cabin pressure would be maintained at 4.8 psi.<\/p>\n

\u201cCABIN GAS RETURN VALVE \u2013 PULL-EGRESS.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPULL-EGRESS. RETURN is EGRESS.\u201d Now, we are setting up the suit oxygen circuit so that we can take our helmets off.<\/p>\n

\u201cCABIN REPRESS VALVE to AUTO.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cREPRESS going to AUTO\u2026Stand by for a noise. There you go.\u201d A little gas always went through the valve with this change, making a sharp noise. \u201cIt\u2019s in AUTO.\u201d If anything should happen to the integrity of the cabin, re-pressurization would now be automatic and would give us time to put our helmets back on. \u201cOkay. Now it\u2019s your turn,\u201d I said, taking the checklist from Cernan. \u201cVerify…,\u201d but before I could get started, something, possibly ice, that was ejected from this valve, located in the hatch, caught my eye. \u201cWonder where it\u2019s going?\u201d I wondered. \u201cOut, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJack, did you select Inverter 2?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cInverter 2 is selected.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. And DECA POWER – OPEN\u2026And guess what? Take your helmet and gloves off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNext, we put the SUIT DIVERTER VALVES to IV (intravehicular), that\u2019s horizontal, and stow the restraints…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

About five minutes later, Cernan called Mission Control, saying, \u201cOkay, Gordy. We\u2019re on page 1-1 (of the Lunar Surface Checklist). Helmets and gloves are off. Diverter Valves are IV (Intravehicular).<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. We\u2019re right with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Next on the flight plan, Cernan began to undertake a star sighting in order to make sure the guidance platform of the PINGS had the best information possible about our position in space as well as relative to the orbit and state vector of Evans in America<\/em>. He again would use the Challenger\u2019s<\/em> one power Alignment Optical Telescope (AOT). Being only one power, the AOT could not provide as accurate alignment as America\u2019s<\/em> Sextant; but it would still be good enough for any possible emergency departure.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you\u2019re looking at NOUN 20,\u201d Cernan told Fullerton. NOUN 20 provided Mission Control and us with the current alignment of the platform from which they could calculate any drift that had occurred due to the dynamics of Powered Descent.<\/p>\n

\u201cWindow shades are going closed,\u201d I told Cernan and Fullerton. This was to cut out as much light as possible and allow Cernan to dark-adapt for the star sighting. Without the collimation provided by the telescope\u2019s tube, and its elimination of reflected light from the lunar surface, star sightings still would not have been possible. This is the same effect that allows one to see stars from inside a deep well during daylight on Earth.<\/p>\n

Then I added, \u201cI\u2019m using it [the corner of the window shade] instead of a light switch because I\u2019ve got it [the light switch] covered up [with gear].\u201d I needed some light to work with the AGS keyboard and numerical display or Data Entry and Display Assembly (DEDA).<\/p>\n

\u201cGordy, you got NOUN 20?\u201d Cernan asked, referring to the current guidance platform yaw, pitch and roll angles off the Inertial Data Coupling Unit (ICDU).<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s affirmative. We copy Noun 20.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Jack\u2019s going to pick up the AGS<\/a><\/span> [alignment information] – on the right side of that [Checklist] page – and I\u2019ll park the [rendezvous radar] antenna [out of the way of the star sighting].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cP20\u2019s (Rendezvous Navigation) in work. Correction, P57\u2019s (Lunar Surface Alignment of the PINGS guidance platform) in work,\u201d Cernan reported. Why Cernan made this slip, I have no idea. The PINGS\u2019 P57 program would be used to realign the Challenger\u2019s<\/em> platform, using a determination of the local vertical (gravity vector) followed by incorporating star sighting data using the AOT.<\/p>\n

\u201cChallenger<\/em>, Houston,\u201d called Fullerton. \u201cYour DPS Oxidizer Pressure is 40 (psi) or less. You can close it.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the next three minutes or so, while Cernan waited for the PINGS to update its knowledge of the gravity vector, he talked continuously to Fullerton, polishing up his memory of the flight into Taurus-Litrow and the landing.[10]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> He particularly remarked how much the Landing and Ascent (L&A) terrain model we trained to in the Lunar Module Simulator looked like the real thing.<\/p>\n

With this long soliloquy and Cernan\u2019s emphasis on the L&A, I could not resist commenting, \u201cGordy, this is the LMP. Let me say that the inside of the spacecraft looked just like the simulator.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery good, Jack.\u201d I am not sure either Cernan or Fullerton appreciated this attempt at humor at Cernan\u2019s expense.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother interesting thing, Gordy,\u201d he continued, all the way through PDI prior to pitchover, Jack and I had the real America – or the other America [meaning the United States of America] – right smack out the front window all the way down, which was pretty spectacular.\u201d I actually could only see the Earth when Challenger<\/em> was rolled left prior to pitch-over.<\/p>\n

\u201cI bet it was. And you can consider yourself STAY for T-3.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, sir. You\u2019re getting smoother all the time. If you\u2019re happy with Noun 22, I\u2019ll PRO(CEED).\u201d P57 began with choosing the REFSMMAT option in the second register of NOUN 06 so that the alignment would be referenced to the landing site. PROCEED on this entry showed that we would specify the alignment technique to be used, both local gravity and a star would be measured, the REFSMMAT would be defined, and the PINGS had a stored, post-landing attitude for the Challenger<\/em>. A second PROCEED began the measurement of the local gravity vector and a course alignment of the platform, shown by a NOUN 20 display of ICDU angles. The NO ATTITUDE light on the DISKEY flashed ON and OFF, twice, as expected. Hitting KEY RELEASE gave a NOUN 04 measure of the Navigation Error Angle for local gravity relative to the current PINGS alignment. For comparison with a second gravity measurement, we recycled with a VERB 32 entry and then read off another NOUN 04 Gravity Error Angle. Another PROCEED gave Houston a look at the new NOUN 22 ICDU Angles that included the gravity measurement. NOUN 22 provided a look at what the gravity alignment had determined and the PRO Cernan requested would accept use of that information by the guidance system.<\/p>\n

\u201cStand by one. \u2026You\u2019re clear to PRO,\u201d Fullerton reported after consulting with Willard Presley at the GUIDO console.<\/p>\n

This PROCEED told the PINGS to accept the gravity alignment and began the star alignment sequence with a NOUN 70 request for a star number, in this case star number 52 (Dubhe). PROCEED to NOUN 79 gave the cursor and spiral angles in the AOT for the designated Forward (2) AOT detent and a second PROCEED put us in a VERB 52 (cursor) or VERB 53 (spiral) flashing with NOUN 71 for marking. For a lunar surface alignment, Cernan turned the AOT\u2019s Reticle Control Knob until the Y cross-hair touched Dubhe at which point he would enter the angle displayed in the reticle counter into the VERB 52 register of NOUN 71. Then he moved the reticle until the spiral touched Dubhe and entered that reticle angle into the VERB 53 register. After four such marks on Dubhe, Cernan hit PROCEED to get out of NOUN 71 and go to NOUN 05 for the calculated Angular Difference relative the old platform alignment.<\/p>\n

About this time, I contacted Mission Control about communications. \u201cOkay, Gordy. I had the angles matched on the Steerable High-gain Antenna and went to SLEW, and it [the signal strength] held for a few seconds and then dropped off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. It looks pretty good. You might try to peak it up just a little more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d I said when Fullerton did not understand that the Steerable Antenna had lost lock, \u201cwe\u2019re on an Omni[-directional antenna] now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRog.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll try the Steerable one more time here. \u2026Okay. We\u2019re on the Steerable, and I\u2019m not going to touch it\u2026It\u2019s [on] STEERABLE and it\u2019s [on] SLEW, and I got 3.8 [carrier signal strength].<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. That looks good to us, Jack. \u2026Jack, we\u2019d like you to verify the tape recorder, OFF.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, that\u2019s verified, Gordy. \u2026Gordy, how does the fuel vent look to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Looks like 8 (psi) to us. You can go ahead and close it (the vent).\u201d<\/p>\n

After about five minutes, Cernan called Mission control concerning his work with the P57. \u201cGordy, I guess I\u2019m puzzled on that one. I had the right star. You see anything we did wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStand by. We\u2019re checking. \u2026Gene, our only guess is that you might have loaded NOUN 88 [star parameters] wrong. We\u2019d like you to start over, and we\u2019ll watch you real close again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGordy. Listen, I think we know what we did. We loaded Spiral for Cursor, and Cursor for Spiral. How would it be if we went through the P57 again and\u2026I guess we got to do it all over. Those old numbers are no good anymore.\u201d Cernan had mixed up the VERB 52 and VERB 53 entries.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure that\u2019s what we did. We loaded Cursor for Spiral, and Spiral for Cursor.\u201d I am not sure why Cernan kept saying \u201cwe\u201d. Normally I would have helped him by running the computer during a P52 or P57 alignment, in this case, I had been working on other things during this P57 alignment.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. And it\u2019s our fault, too. We should have watched that. \u2026Jack, this is Houston. We do have the pre-PDI AGS<\/a><\/span> cal[ibration]numbers. You won\u2019t need to read them to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d I had been going through recording various AGS alignment data, consisting of Addresses for Landing Azimuth Angle (047, 053) and x, y and z Gyro Drift Component Coefficients (544, 545, 546). A calibration of the Gyro and Accelerometers followed with an entry of +60000 in Address 400 and entry of the various ascent target parameters related to our landing site (224, 226, 662, 673). I then monitored Address 400 over the next five minutes until it changed to 00000, indicating that the calibration was complete. At that point, I recorded the new Gyro Drift Component Coefficients displayed in Addresses 544, 545, and 546. If these values had change more the 2.0 degrees per hour, the AGS would have been considered unusable. In this case, the change had not even come close to this limit.<\/p>\n

\u201cGordy, you going to want a recycle on this gravity measurement? I doubt if it the [PINGS] will need it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStand by\u2026No\u2026no recycle necessary this time through.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGordy, ED Batts are 37.2,\u201d I reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cGordy, let me comment about the handling of the bird. After you once fly it [the LM] around in orbit a little bit, you get accustomed to the thrusters, and it came back to me quite a bit from [Apollo] 10, anyway. And you get a feel for acceleration and deceleration as well as the attitude-hold capability. And, really, the response, even with a heavy descent stage near the surface, is phenomenal. Responded exactly in the direction I wanted, held attitude very good. And, let me tell you, the LLTV<\/a><\/span> [Lunar Landing Training Vehicle] played no small part in this landing as far as I\u2019m concerned.\u201d As an aviator myself, I can understand Cernan\u2019s desire to debrief his piloting of the Challenger<\/em>; but some of his prolonged statements were eating into our productive time on the Moon.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Gene,\u201d Fullerton replied.<\/p>\n

[In December 2008, I helped stimulate the scheduling of a day-long discussion on lunar landing training held by the Constellation Program\u2019s Altair Lunar Lander Project Office. The lead participants in this discussion of the experiences and opinions of Apollo Commanders consisted of Neil Armstrong, Gene Cernan, and John Young. Dave Scott (Apollo 15 Commander) provided written comments as well. Pete Conrad and Alan Shepard, Commanders of Apollo 12 and Apollo 14, respectively, were deceased. The main question asked of the three Commanders at this meeting was, \u201cDoes lunar landing training need to include a single pilot active training craft comparable to the Lunar Landing Training Vehicle (LLTV) used for Apollo.\u201d As a Lunar Module Pilot, I acted as a more-or-less objective commentator on what the other three said.<\/p>\n

At this meeting, Cernan stated emphatically that he \u201ctuned out Jack\u2019s read-out of data from the computer\u201d as he flew toward a landing. This incredible statement probably came from the macho fighter pilot side of his memory, as it just could not be true in reality. In fact, Neil Armstrong\u2019s comments following Cernan\u2019s contradicted the latter on this point.[11]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> In the relevant portion of his book, \u201cThe Last Man on the Moon,\u201d Cernan also comes close to saying that landing on the Moon required only his skill and daring but still includes a number of relevant quotes of the altitude and velocity data provided verbally from several thousand feet altitude to touchdown and which, by implication, he relied on to make the landing.[12]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> In reality, a shared approach to flying the Lunar Module, <\/em>with the Commander clearly having the final responsibility, had been developed over many years by extensive interactions between guidance and navigation equipment and software designers as well as flight controllers and astronauts.[13]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> Critical analysis and confirmation of landing techniques came largely during Flight Operations Planning Meetings, chaired by Howard W. \u201cBill\u201d Tindall.[14]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> Commanders and Lunar Module Pilots then worked out the details of information transfer as required by different phases of the landing sequence and as needed to meet the individual preferences of Commanders. The refinement of this interaction between Commanders and LMPs went on from Apollo l1 through the 15 months Cernan and I had trained together in Lunar Module simulators for Apollo 17.<\/p>\n

A number of unique factors about the lunar surface and the design of the guidance and navigation system required that the Apollo Commanders use the information provided verbally by the Lunar Module Pilot. First, no familiar visual landing references relative to actual size exist out the window by which altitude and rate of descent can be judged \u2013 landing radar gave us these two critical parameters through the computer display that the LMP monitored and, in turn, gave verbally to the Commander. Second, in the last 100 feet or so, dust streaming away from the descent engine nozzle gives a false impression of flying backward and, again, the landing radar provided actual forward and backward and sideways velocities through the PNGS computer display. Commanders generally wanted one or two feet per second forward velocity at touchdown and could only get confirmation of this from the LMP without taking their eyes away from the landing scene. And third, the Lunar Module\u2019s windows had no heads-up display of information needed for landing, and all Commanders soon learned that looking into the cabin for that information from instruments on the near-window panel raised the risks to unacceptable levels. In fact, the only flight information available to the Commander in his field of view consisted of an etched grid display on the inside and outside of his window called the Landing Point Designator. After pitch over at 8,000 feet, coordinates displayed by the computer, and given verbally to the Commander by the Lunar Module Pilot, allowed the Commander to determine the point ahead on the surface where a hands off, automatic landing would occur. Then, if desired, the Commander could \u201cre-designate\u201d the computer\u2019s landing point by \u201cclicking\u201d his right hand controller forward or back or right or left so that the computer\u2019s landing point determination coincided with the planned landing location or one deemed best by the Commander.[15]<\/a><\/sup> <\/strong><\/p>\n

So, in the final analysis, the Apollo Commanders depended on location, altitude, altitude rate, and forward and lateral velocity information given verbally by the Lunar Module Pilot, to make a safe landing. In the future, this information might well be provided by a heads up display in the Commander\u2019s window with a back-up display in the Pilot\u2019s window, but that was not available in the Lunar Module. The inherent difficulties of lunar landings, however, will not change and almost certainly will benefit from two pilots working together as they did in Apollo.]<\/p>\n

Cernan stayed quiet for a few minutes while he redid the P57 alignment. \u201cOkay. NOUN 22 again. I\u2019ll go ahead and torque them.\u201d Cernan means that he will tell the PINGS to realign the platform based on the new information once Mission Control agrees.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Go ahead,\u201d Fullerton replied after checking with the GUIDO console and who were watching our telemetry.<\/p>\n

After a redo the star sightings, Cernan said, \u201cOkay, Gordy. It\u2019s a little better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRog. Looks good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, there\u2019s NOUN 93 [gyro torquing angles].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Torque it.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the new alignment in the PINGS, I entered Address 400+30000 in the AGS so that its strapped down gyros would be aligned with the PINGS before power-down. I also entered Address 413+10000 in order to store the Challenger\u2019s<\/em> azimuth in the AGS. The AGS now was ready for any emergency liftoff that might be required over the next three days.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Challenger<\/em>, Houston. We\u2019re standing by for the [PINGS computer memory] dumps.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJack, verify that TELEMETRY is HI.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVerified.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Gordy\u2026Coming at you. Mark it. It\u2019s on the way,\u201d Cernan said as he entered VERB 74 to initiate the 42-second E-Memory dump.<\/p>\n

Preparations for Exploration<\/strong><\/p>\n

Four days and eighteen hours since leaving the Kennedy Space Center, Apollo 17\u2019s crew began to configure Challenger\u2019s<\/em> cabin for a three-day stay in the valley of Taurus-Littrow. We never received a formal \u201cSTAY\u201d authority from Mission Control; however, the continued work through the Lunar Surface Checklist made it clear that we would begin the preparations for a full three days of exploration.<\/p>\n

At this point, we are about thirty minutes behind the planned timeline. Cernan, however, continued to relive the landing and touchdown.<\/p>\n

\u201cGordy, one other thing about the landing. I saw the [CONTACT] light, I think. And I heard Jack call it \u2013 the CONTACT light. I think I waited about a second and hit the [ENGINE] STOP button. She shut down immediately. And, of course, you could feel the fall. I don\u2019t really feel we fell that much, but it was quite a change in acceleration at that point.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Gene.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I guess I had, from what I would guess, a foot or two per second forward speed on that one.\u201d Of course, I had told him that based on the Radar data in the PINGS.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Sounds good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd let me know when I can have the computer, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. It\u2019s your computer. \u2026And I\u2019m standing by with [IMU] parking angles when you\u2019re ready to load them [in the computer].\u201d These angles would position the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) of the PINGS in its least stressful passive position for the three days it would be powered down.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. We\u2019ll be ready in a second.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo ahead with the angles,\u201d I called when I had a pen in hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. These are the IMU parking angles. Plus 295.86 [for X]. \u2026I see you (Cernan) loading the [Rendezvous] Radar [parking angles],\u201d Fullerton interrupted himself. \u201cDo you just want to load these [IMU numbers] or write them down?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo ahead. I\u2019m writing,\u201d I answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Y will be plus all zeros. And [Z will be] plus 084.14. Over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. NOUN 20 will be plus 295.86, plus all zeros, plus 084.14.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s correct.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Houston. I\u2019m going to power down the AGS<\/a><\/span>, if you\u2019re willing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet, Jack. We\u2019d like you to read out 047 and 053 to us.\u201d These Addresses gave the sine and cosine of Landing Azimuth Angle, respectively.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. You want the new ones?\u201d These registers in the AGS had been changed by my just completed AGS realignment to the PINGS.<\/p>\n

Cernan, not paying attention to what I had asked Fullerton, interjected with, \u201cOkay, Gordy. If you\u2019re happy with NOUN 22, I\u2019ll Enter them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re happy.\u201d This quick response meant that Thorson at LM CONTROL had given Fullerton thumbs up from across the Control Room, satisfied with the results of Cernan\u2019s second try at a P57 alignment of the PINGS.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. And it just dawned on me. I\u2019m sorry about the zero on the NOUN 69.\u201d This apology caused me to laugh for some reason. Cernan had initially miss-entered the Landing Site Correction numbers for downrange, out of plane, and altitude Mission Control had given us during Powered Descent.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s okay. You\u2019re forgiven.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI appreciate that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, I had called up AGS Registers 047 and 053 for Thorson at LM CONTROL, watching over both the PINGS and AGS by way of telemetry.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Jack. We got 047 and 053.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Am I GO to pull the [AGS Circuit] Breaker?\u201d<\/p>\n

Breaking in again after entering VERB 41, NOUN 20 to set the IMU parking angles Fullerton had given me, Cernan asked, \u201cJack, give me those angles you just copied down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNOUN 20 will be X plus 295.86, Y plus all zeros, Z plus 084.14.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cernan then verified those angles had been accepted with a VERB 16, NOUN 20 entry and asked, \u201cOkay. Are you happy with NOUN 20?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. We\u2019re happy with NOUN 20, and you\u2019re clear to power down the AGS.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d I acknowledged. Cernan also went to P06 on the DISKEY, the program that powered down the PINGS.<\/p>\n

\u201cGordy, the breakers are coming OPEN on [Checklist pages] 1-4 and 1-5.\u201d This reconfiguration of the two circuit breaker panels began the full power down of the Challenger<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGordo, we\u2019re on [page] 1-6,\u201d Cernan reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Thank you.\u201d This began about ten minutes of setting three pages of switch positions that reduced power consumption minimum required for our stay on the Moon. At the same time, we set switches in the positions necessary for any emergency departure should that become necessary. ECS valves and communications switches were configured in preparation for beginning to work with the EVA Preparation Checklist as soon as we had our first meal on the lunar surface.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Houston,\u201d I finally called. \u201cWe\u2019re at the bottom of [page] 1-8, and I\u2019m standing by for your lift-off times.\u201d These times represented when we would have a normal Ascent and Rendezvous with Evans should we lose communications and some degrading condition in the Challenger<\/em> required our departure over the up-coming 12 hours. I pulled out the Data Card Book, opened it to the pre-prepared page, and began to copy.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Jack. Lift-off time for rev 15 is 116:55:51; 16 is 118:54:28; 120:53:04; 122:51:40; 124:50:17; 126:48:53. Over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Starting with rev 15, 116:55:51; 118:54:28; 120:53:04; 122:51:40; 124:50:17; 126:48:53.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a good read-back.\u201d<\/p>\n

After we stowed the armrests under the hand controllers to a vertical position to get them out of the way, Cernan reported, \u201c<\/strong>Gordo, the PLSS is against the hatch, and we\u2019re installing the BRA.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger on that.\u201d PLSS stands for Portable Live Support System (pronounced \u201cpliss), in this case, mine had been stowed on the floor between us for launch and landing. BRA was the politically incorrect name we gave to the two large pouches of loose webbing that we temporarily hung across the front of the cabin. The BRA gave us a place to put helmets, gloves, and other loose items until they were needed as we prepared for the first EVA.<\/p>\n

\u201cChallenger,<\/em> Houston. We\u2019ve got three questions for you to help pin down your exact position, any time it\u2019s convenient. Maybe when you\u2019re taking the out-the-window pictures. Over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Gordo,\u201d Cernan responded. \u201cI think we can give it to you. Why don\u2019t you wait? We\u2019re just getting the mag[azine] bag out and jett[ison] bags out from behind the engine cover here, to give you an idea where we are[(in the checklist].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. No hurry at all.\u201d The Science Back Room and the traverse planners wanted very much to know exactly where we landed even though it would make little difference in our actual activities. I am sure the media also were asking the same question of Public Affairs. Answering it, however, would continue to use up some valuable time, and we landed close enough to known features that implementing our exploration plans should not be a problem. Later analysis of photographs showed that Cernan had landed us about 100 m north of Poppie and that for the time being he was confusing that crater with the western-most of the three craters that make up Trident (Fig. 9.2<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Gene, lets stow the LEVA Bags on the floor \u2013 one to your left and one over here to my right. \u2026Now, the two lens brushes go in the Purse.\u201d<\/span> The Purse was a bag that we hung on the front of the DISKEY to have a place for the temporary retention of small items.<\/p>\n

\u201cGot them. \u2026Here\u2019s your LEVA (Lunar Extravehicular Visor Assembly).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, I need to change the 16mm magazine from O to P with O going into the ISA (Interim Stowage Assembly) top pocket. Can you get that ISA from behind the Engine cover? But leave it on the cover. \u2026While you are back there, leave our backup EVA gloves that are in the ISA behind the Engine Cover\u2026and put the spare LCGs (Liquid Cooled Garments) in the ISA big pocket.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNext, we need the RCUs (PLSS Remote Control Units) transferred to the LGC bag until we are ready to prep for EVA-1. \u2026And we need the ISA and the hammocks (Sleep Restraints) put above the shelf where the RCUs were stowed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can come back to the front now and deploy the EVA Antenna.\u201d<\/span> The handle for erecting the VHF antenna projected down from the cabin ceiling just above the Commander\u2019s station. This antenna would receive our transmissions during activities in the vicinity of Challenger<\/em> and before we began to transmit directly to Earth through the Rover\u2019s S-band system.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait! If you can reach the bag of film magazines behind the Engine Cover, I will put it out of the way over here on the DEDA. \u2026Thanks. \u2026Now, we need to move four of the jettison bags to the stowage compartment next to you and hang one other on your handhold.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat makes sense.\u201d<\/span> In fact, these were checklist procedures we had gone through many times in the simulators. The procedures were the product of hundreds of hours of trial and error work by the support team and ourselves so that EVA preparation would go as efficiently as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 500mm lens and its camera and ring sight go in the Purse\u2026 and the Constant Wear Garments go into the camera box. \u2026The Camera Bag goes in the jettison bag.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGot them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFinally, and then we can eat, let\u2019s disconnect all the armrests except your right hand one, and put them in the jettison bag.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With this preparatory work done, Cernan tried again to locate our landing point relative to named craters. After rambling on with bad information for a minute or so, Cernan said, \u201cThat\u2019s probably as close as the Navy Captain can ever guess where he is anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRog,\u201d Air Force pilot Fullerton responded with a laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Houston,\u201d I reported, \u201cwe\u2019re just starting our eat period. Sorry to be a little behind [by about 20 minutes]. PRD<\/a><\/span> readings are [CDR] 17037 and LMP is 24117.\u201d PRD stands for Personal Radiation Dosimeter that we wore, except during the three EVAs, to measure our accumulated space radiation dose.<\/p>\n

As Cernan unlatched the food compartment, the pressure from the expanded food bags caused much of our food for the day to explode into the cabin. We sorted the first meal bags out and re-stowed the rest.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Jack. We got that. (Long Pause) Would you verify you\u2019re Biomed [sensors are in the]\u2026RIGHT [switch position]?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, that\u2019s verified [RIGHT]. How does it look?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks good.\u201d Fullerton looked back at Dr. Zieglschmid on the MOCR\u2019s Flight SURGEON\u2019s Console for a visual OK.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Gordy. We\u2019re starting to cut into a little lunch here and, if you\u2019ve got any questions, why don\u2019t you come up with them now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. We\u2019re wondering if you can give us estimate of the angular position \u2013 clock position \u2013 of Rudolph. And can you line up Rudolph with a horizontal feature out beyond it? \u2026I should say \u2018horizon feature\u2019 \u2013 out in the distance \u2013 not \u2018horizontal\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. I thought Rudolph was right out there at 3 o\u2019clock. Jack\u2019s looking at it and he said, \u2018yes\u2019, that is Rudolph right at 3 o\u2019clock out his right-hand window.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if it\u2019ll mean anything to you, but (on) the shadow of the LM, the rendezvous radar antenna is pointing about one-third of the way down from the peak of Family [Mountain] And that, I know, is pretty gross [as an estimate]. And, Gordo, I must be right here abeam of Trident 1. The only reason I hesitate is that I\u2019m so close; but it\u2019s probably, well I guess it\u2019s close to 100 meters \u2013 80 meters anyway \u2013 to where the rim of Trident 1 falls off. And I am abeam of the center of Trident 1, and that\u2019s the only possible thing it could be. And that would put Poppie just about where I expected it to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. \u2026We just want to confirm. You\u2019re referring to Trident 1 as the easternmost part of Trident, is that right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sir, Gordo. It\u2019s always been the westernmost part of Trident. The [planned] landing site was on a line between Trident 1 and Rudolph and judging from what Jack\u2019s got out his right-hand window and what I got on my left-hand window we\u2019re right there, except possibly a skosh further south on that line.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the target point that was in the PINGS was right up where we all had expected it to be, about halfway between here and what we\u2019re calling the rim of Camelot. We can\u2019t see into Camelot; we can just see the rim of it. It\u2019s several, oh, at least 2 to 300 meters up there, I expect.\u201d Actually the rim of Camelot lies about 800m due west of our position, illustrating the problem of underestimating distances on the Moon due to the lack of atmosphere and familiar size references.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, what o\u2019clock position is\u2026the nearest part of the rim of Camelot? Or maybe\u2026it\u2019s better to define the south rim. Can you see the south rim of it? \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201c12 o\u2019clock [for the near rim]\u2026Yeah, Gordy, [we can see the south rim] but it blends in so well; all we\u2019re seeing is an undulating high [slope] as the rim. And to the best of my knowledge, we\u2019ve got\u2026the east rim right at 12 o\u2019clock.\u201d<\/p>\n

At this point, I stopped eating and added, \u201cHey, Gordy, right at 12 o\u2019clock, also, is a boulder that\u2019s at least 3 meters (high) and maybe 5, and I wouldn\u2019t be a bit surprised if you can find it (in the overhead photography). It\u2019s on a line between us and the intersection of the South Massif and the [west] Family Mountain horizon. Just slightly left of that line or south of that line. And that boulder ought to show up on your best photography\u2026\u201d Then, using my knowledge of the about 30m length of the Challenger\u2019s<\/em> shadow, I added, \u201cAnd that boulder\u2019s at least 200 meters away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cernan and Fullerton then got back on the question of where we were relative to Trident and Poppie. The real answer would come later. In fact, a few minutes later, Evans said to Mission Control, “Hey, I think I can see a light spot down there on the landing site where they might have blown off some of that halo stuff. It\u2019s between Sherlock and Camelot.” He gave map coordinates that put us on the north rim of Poppie and confirmed this on later orbits. For some reason, neither the Science Support Room nor Public Affairs picked up on this accurate placement of our landing point.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. That\u2019s all the questions now. Enjoy your dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHouston,\u201d I reported. \u201cI have calmed down, but be advised that our dinner is corn chowder.\u201d This comment refers back to the corn chowder that earlier had created bad intestinal gas during the flight to the Moon.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe went to Captain\u2019s Mast for eating that the other day,\u201d Cernan commented.<\/p>\n

In addition to corn chowder, my first meal on the Moon consisted of frankfurters, white bread, chocolate pudding, and re-hydrated orange drink, tea and lemonade. Cernan had selected the same menu plus some partially dried apricots.<\/p>\n

\u201cGordy\u2026Houston, Seventeen. Houston, how do you read Challenger<\/em> \u2013 or whoever we are?” While I ate, I took the opportunity to look at the geological features near the landing point (Figs. 9.1 <\/strong>to 9.8<\/strong>).<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhoever you are”, you\u2019re loud and clear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI took the [Leitz 10×10] monocular,\u201d I began, chewing on some extra bacon squares, \u201cand looked at some large boulders at our 12 o\u2019clock position. They\u2019re probably on the order of a half-meter to 2 meters, buried but without strong filleting. \u2026And most of them that I could see had the same mottled light-gray and medium-gray texture, and it looked like there\u2019s a lineation in it. And whatever the mottling is, it\u2019s on a grain size or fragment size of a few centimeters, and it looks as if it\u2019s very uniform in that mottling; that is, there\u2019s one fragment size.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d responded Fullerton. This mottling turned out to be because of the disruption of a thin, brownish, glassy patina by solar wind sputtering and micro-meteor impacts. Both, in turn, produce a high temperature plasma that condenses as the aluminum-silicate glass forming most of the patina. The brown color of the patina, which darkens with age, comes from extremely small (\u201cnanophase\u201d) particles of metallic iron embedded in the glass. Reduction of iron in silicate minerals by sputtering and at the point of mirco-meteor impact produces the metallic iron.[16]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a few [boulders] near one crater out at 12 o\u2019clock),\u201d I continued, \u201c[that are] dark-gray rock that may be glass coated. Matter-of-fact, one of them looks like it\u2019s right at the rim [of that crater] and might have been part of a projectile that made the crater.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger,\u201d replied Fullerton. A secondary crater, that is, one made by a piece of ejecta from another impact, are usually irregular in shape and may have the boulder that made the crater inside the crater or at its rim. The apparent glass on the boulder I was looking at suggested that it had been thrown into the valley by an impact some distance away.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe large boulder that I mentioned that\u2019s several meters in diameter; \u2026I\u2019m not even sure it\u2019s a boulder. It does have a well-developed fillet [of soil at its base]. It\u2019s highly fractured. It looks like the fractures generally are north-south. At least we can\u2019t see end-on into the fractures. And it\u2019s too far away to be sure, but it looks like it\u2019s mottled also, although there did appear in the monocular to be a more heterogeneous mottling. It might be a breccia (rock composed of fragments of other rocks).\u201d This boulder, later known as Geophone Rock, turned out not to be a breccia but rather a basalt lava boulder with small, smooth-walled holes or vesicules that contained a gas when the rock was molten. \u2026That boulder ought to be very close to the ALSEP site.\u201d I eventually selected an ALSEP deployment area about 40m north of this boulder.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cernan then jumped in with some additional comments about what we could see from the Challenger\u2019s<\/em> windows. \u201cGordo, in reference to these boulders [Jack referred to], everywhere I can see out of my left window and out ahead of me \u2013 in referring [particularly] to that boulder Jack\u2019s talking about which is just a little bit on my side at 12 o\u2019clock \u2013 it appears that the dark mantle has filleted and, for the most part, has covered part of, or is up on top of some of, the crevices and the crannies in the boulders themselves, with the exception of \u2013 well, I\u2019ll take that back \u2013 even the very small ones.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

[Cernan\u2019s observations here and, for the most part, throughout our stay in the valley illustrate the intensive nature and success of the simulation-based field geological training program I proposed to Alan Shepherd in 1968. This training began with the enthusiastic acceptance of Jim Lovell and his Apollo 13 crew, but with some feedback into Apollo 12.[17]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> (Ironically, Cernan\u2019s training as Back-up Commander of Apollo 14 was the least intensive of the Apollo 13 through 16 missions, due to a lack of interest, ironically by Shepherd, Commander of Apollo 14. On the other hand, Cernan was a quick learner during Apollo 17 training.) Had most of the professional pilots who landed on the Moon, and who observed it from lunar orbit, not responded well to this training, the scientific return from all the lunar missions would have been far less than the extraordinary scientific benefits that still flow from Apollo exploration.]<\/span><\/p>\n

At this point in the mission, the field geology team as well as the crew had the working hypothesis that the dark mantle, to which Cernan referred, consisted of young volcanic deposits, probably explosively generated volcanic ash and debris or what geologists call \u201dpyroclastics\u201d. Cernan\u2019s exposure to the filleting effects of recent pyroclastic eruptions during training on the island of Hawaii probably influenced his description of what he saw from the window. Of course, the spray from nearby meteor impacts and impact erosion of the host boulder constitute other sources of fillet material on the Moon as well as the possible effects of regolith entrained by the Descent Engine exhaust close to the landing point.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d say (that) boulders of the size Jack\u2019s talking about \u2013 anywhere from 1 to 2 to 3 meters \u2013 that are visible through the surface, [make up] a very small percentage [of the surface], but when you look at them at our level, it looks like they are quite populous. I\u2019d say there are maybe about 25 of them in view between myself and where the horizon falls off down away from us towards the South Massif. The area back [southeast] towards Station 1, at least the other side of Trident, looks like it\u2019s more heavily strewn with some of these filleted and partially-mantled large fragments.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Gene.\u201d Later discoveries at Shorty Crater[18]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> and the analysis of samples of regolith show that dark pyroclastic material, indeed, once blanketed the region; but this dark material had been largely mixed into the regolith over the 3.5 billion years since the last eruptions occurred. Any filleting was impact generated; but, of course, we did not know this at the time of our first view from Challenger\u2019s<\/em> windows.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cernan continued: \u201cTo say that there is a boulder, as such, actually sitting on the surface, I really can\u2019t find one, unless they\u2019re around some of these very small and possibly younger craters. But I think for the most part everything is somewhat mantled.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Okay,\u201d responded Fullerton. Buried and partially buried boulders prevail as a normal characteristic of the regolith everywhere on the Moon. This results from the very low frequency of impacts with enough energy to excavate below the regolith and eject boulders on to the surface. Subsequent impacts that move only regolith, or break up ejected boulders over tens of millions of years, tend to bury or at lease significantly fillet those boulders exposed at the surface. Certainly, any boulder at the surface that had formed a depression around it when it landed at least would be partially buried as redistributed regolith gradually filled the depression.<\/span><\/p>\n

I broke in at this point. \u201cGordy, I think maybe the predictions of a fairly thin regolith were good. I have a crater at about, oh, 130 feet (from the LM). It looks like it\u2019s not more than a meter deep. \u2026It\u2019s very fresh, has a bright halo around it, and it\u2019s very rocky in its interior and has some rocks that are at least 10 or 20 centimeters in diameter on the rim. It looks like it\u2019s penetrated into some much rockier substrate than what we\u2019re seeing on the surface. The surface [fragment population] itself looks like, oh, probably 15 percent fragments greater than half a centimeter [in average diameter].\u201d This interpretation did not hold up when I examined the crater, directly. The fragments turned out to be impact compacted regolith (regolith breccia) like what we would see at Van Serg Crater.[19]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Jack.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see any general size sorting,\u201d I continued, meaning the fragment population appeared to have a random frequency of sizes. Actually, my statement about the lack of \u201cany general size sorting\u201d is misleading. A form of sorting in the regolith has taken place. As the impact commutation process takes place, it produces mature regolith in which the proportion of fine fragments increases with decreasing grain size down to a size of ~64 and then the proportion of fine fragments decreases from that size on down.[20]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> \u201cI do have a crater out here that\u2019s maybe a meter in diameter – fairly fresh, although not bright halo[ed] – that has not penetrated to blocky material. And it looks like that the saturation crater size is very small in the area we can see; that is, there don\u2019t seem to be any old or very subdued craters. \u2026Well, let me think about how to put that again. It\u2019s obviously saturated with craters a few centimeters in diameter, but when you get bigger than that, there seems to be more of a clear [frequency] distribution rather than a saturation [crater size].\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Fullerton acknowledged. Crater saturation is reached at a crater size when each new crater destroys craters its own size.[21]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> As there are exponentially more small impactors than large, saturation occurs first at small diameters, moving over time to larger and large craters. Everything being equal, saturation crater size is a measure of the age of a specific surface; however, everything may not be equal, particularly over relatively small regions. The frequency of impacts may vary with time, ejected or eruptive material may bury or partially bury craters, seismic events may degrade craters, or some original materials may preserve craters better than others.<\/span><\/p>\n

While we continued to eat, Cernan began a several minute long description of the view shown in Figs.<\/strong> 9.4<\/strong> to 9.8<\/strong>. Eventually, Fullerton interrupted him, saying, \u201cChallenger,<\/em> Houston, over\u2026We\u2019re about 12 [or] 13 minutes behind the timeline for starting cabin preps. And [the] Backroom (Science Support Room) is enjoying your descriptions, but we think we\u2019d rather you press on with the preps and get ready to get out for a really good view. Over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Gordy. We\u2019re doing this and eating too. We\u2019re trying to do them both at the same time, and we are pressing. Just want to say one other thing about the [South] Massif. I can see a couple of places where very small craters have penetrated the Massif \u2013 craters maybe a meter or 2 in size, some [possibly] 5 meters – and there\u2019s a lot of rock debris around them, which tends to [make me] believe that there is very little, if any, soft covering on that Massif.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d Cernan\u2019s description shows the payoff of the many geology discussions on impact cratering we had during training. Here, Cernan probably describes craters on the steep, ~26\u00b0<\/strong> slopes of the South Massif from which most regolith apparently has been stripped by the debris avalanche that formed the Light Mantle \u2013 a further indication of an avalanche-based origin for that material.[22]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I took a moment from my eating to add some potential planning information for the third EVA. \u201cGordy, just a couple more words about the North Massif. It looks like a good distribution of boulder tracks [on its slopes]. Many of the boulders are accessible. The tracks can be traced up at least to mid-slope. That\u2019s at my 3 o\u2019clock position. And occasionally, at that mid-slope position, particularly northwest of Henson [Crater], you can see abundant boulders suggestive of outcrop. That\u2019s something that we had missed seeing on the pre-mission photos. And [they, the boulder ledges, aren\u2019t] as abundant as on the South Massif, but there are apparent ledge formers [there at] about mid-slope. \u2026Okay, Gordy. There\u2019s also a few very bright sparkles from the [near regolith] surface \u2013 not abundant, but a few.\u201d I apparently picked up reflections from the abundant glass beads present in the valley regolith.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChallenger<\/em>, Houston. I\u2019m going to hand you over to the good Dr. [Robert] Parker here. Have a good trip outside there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGordy, thank you,\u201d Cernan replied. \u201cYou do outstanding work and we sure do appreciate it, Babe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy pleasure.\u201d<\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

Completion of the first phase of human exploration of the Moon, as unfortunate as that end would be, constituted the primary goal of the Apollo 17 Mission to the valley of Taurus-Littrow. Apollo 11 and 12 achieved all the initial Cold War objectives of the United States. A lack of historical perspective by political leaders and the media, beginning in the late 1960s, had forced the limitation of post-Apollo 11 lunar explorations to just six additional missions[23]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong>, five of which would have successful landings.<\/p>\n

The valley of Taurus-Littrow lies significantly north of the area explored by previous missions, being located 600 km north of Tranquillity Base. Most importantly for science, the valley provided the then most accessible three-dimensional exposure of many aspects of lunar geology. Our observations, orbital and geophysical sensing, sampling, and photography of the geology exposed in the valley would focus on gathering new knowledge and answering questions about the origin and evolution of the Moon raised by previous field observations and photographic and sample analyses.<\/p>\n

All of lunar exploration, that of Apollo and that in the future, has its primary scientific justification in gaining an understanding of the early history of the Earth and other terrestrial planets. On Earth, that history remains largely unavailable due to the intense geological activity that has taken place over the last 3.8 billion years. Internal geological forces on the Moon, on the other hand, have been largely quiescent during that immense expanse of time. The Moon, therefore, provides earth scientists with a record of the environment of the inner Solar System during the first 800 million years of Earth history, a period known as the \u201cHadean Eon.\u201d These 800 million years included the time when the molecular precursors to life developed on Earth and possibly on Mars.[24]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> By the time Apollo 17 arrived in Taurus-Littrow, we knew this period on Earth had been extraordinarily violent \u2013 impact basins and craters had formed on all four terrestrial planets as well as the Moon. Even with the remarkable results of Apollo investigations, a great deal more information remains to be gathered before the all the important details of Earth\u2019s early history will be revealed.<\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

The primary objectives of the first period of ExtraVehicular Activity (EVA-1) for Apollo 17 consisted of raising the American Flag at a sixth location on the Moon, activating the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), deploying the many components of the Extended Apollo Lunar Scientific Experiment Package (EALSEP), but always referred to as the \u201cALSEP\u201d)[25]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong>, and exploration of as much of the floor of the valley as time permits.<\/p>\n

With the ALSEP deployed, we would get down to the real business of exploration. Plans for that exploration rested on the then status of lunar science and its relation to the geological features and interpreted history of the region in and around Taurus-Littrow. Apollo 15 and Lunar Orbiter imagery (Fig. 9.12a,b<\/strong>) formed the foundation of photo-geologic mapping related to Taurus-Littrow. We also depended on the extrapolation of the results of observations and sample analysis coming from five previous Apollo missions.<\/p>\n

\"\"Fig. 9.12a.<\/strong> A part of the Apollo 15 panorama camera image P-9290 of Tauris-Littrow Valley and surrounding regions that provided the basis for planning for exploration by Apollo 17. The frame is from orbit 16 when the CSM was at 106 km altitude and the solar elevation was 39\u00b0. (NASA photo AS15-P-9290).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\" Part of an earlier Lunar Orbiter IV frame showing the valley. The photo was taken in May, 1967 at an altitude of 2722 km, more than 25 times higher than the Apollo 15 CSM. The sun angle was 66\u00b0. (NASA photo LO-IV-078-H3).<\/span><\/p>\n

By December of 1972, the lunar science community thought it had developed a general understanding of the broad history of the Moon except for how it actually originated as a planet-like body orbiting the Earth and what was the absolute timing of the major basin forming impact events that had disrupted the lunar crust prior to about 3.7 billion years ago. 45 years later, far more analysis and thought has significantly modified that original understanding and added many more questions; however, the planning for exploration of Apollo 17 was necessarily based on what was then thought to be either true or uncertain.<\/p>\n

Most in the lunar science community agreed that radiometric dating of some Apollo 15 impact breccia samples showed those materials had cooled no earlier than about 3.85 billion years ago[26]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> and probably recorded the age of Imbrium, one of the youngest basin forming impact events; but other than that, only the relative sequence of basin formation had been determined by photo-geological mapping. That mapping showed that at least 50 major basins (>300 km in diameter) formed before Imbrium, but only one, Orientale, formed after Imbrium, Therefore, the questions of \u201cWhen did the 50 or more major basins form?\u201d and \u201cWhere did the Moon come from?\u201d remained to be answered with direct relevance to the early history of the Earth. Many other more detailed questions about lunar history also existed and were integrated into the plan for exploration of Taurus-Littrow.<\/p>\n

Lunar photo-geologic mapping relies heavily on the geological \u201claw\u201d of superposition, first articulated by Nicolas Steno in 1669,[27]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> that is, a distinct feature lying on top of another distinct feature is the younger of the two features. Such mapping had shown that the Serenitatis Basin is older than a Imbrium,[28]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> and we hoped to determine how much older by sampling the material that forms the 1600-2100 m high massif walls of the valley, presumed to be ejecta from the Serenitatis Basin. As the Serenitatis impact event created the valley of Taurus-Littrow after ejecta from that impact had been deposited,[29]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> it was possible that even older materials could be sampled at the base of these mountains.<\/p>\n

In addition to dating the Serenitatis event, high expectations existed for obtaining samples in Taurus-Littrow that would provide additional insights into the nature of the lunar crust and expand our knowledge of lunar volcanism. In the case of lunar volcanism, it was thought that very young deposits of volcanic ash might be encountered. Few expectations had developed, however, for gaining new insights into the origin and very early history of the Moon, but surprises awaited us. (See the Introduction to Chapter 13 for more details on the status of lunar science prior to the mission of Apollo 17.)<\/p>\n

Preparation for Stepping on the Moon<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before we could begin to evaluate the accuracy of the geological history of Taurus-Littrow, and peerhaps add additional insights into the evolution of the Moon and Earth, we had to prepare to exit the Challenger<\/em> into the vacuum, heat, and dust of the lunar environment. This we began to do about four days and 19 hours after leaving Earth.<\/p>\n

With dinner over, we began to stow all the loose items in the cabin that we would not use outside and get the two Utility Lights and their wires out of the way behind the AOT. Also, I set up the Sequence Camera to monitor activities outside the right hand window during the first part of EVA-1, setting the aperture at f8, shutter speed at 1\/250 of a second, and a frame rate of 6 fps.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Bob, we\u2019ll give you a call in a minute,\u201d Cernan reported. \u201cWe just made a couple of suit adjustments.\u201d We had put on our pressure suits about eight and a half hours earlier, prior to activating the Challenger.<\/em> This had given us time to evaluate how they fit. It became clear that some minor increases in leg length would make them a little more comfortable because of a gain in spinal cord length after several days of exposure to weightlessness.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Okay. Copy that.\u201d Our EVA CAPCOMM was Robert \u201cBob\u201d Parker, one of the second group of scientist astronauts, selected in 1967. Although Bob was to be our lunar surface activity CAPCOM, he also had been assigned the role of \u201cStoney\u201d at Launch Control (Chapters 4 and 5) and had regular duty as CAPCOM during our flight to the Moon. Prior to becoming an astronaut, Parker graduated from Amherst College, received his PhD from Caltech in astronomy, and ultimately became a professor of astronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He had a weird, sometimes cutting \u201cCaltech\u201d sense of humor that probably resembled my own more than I ever wanted to admit. It was testament to the perseverance, dedication and abilities of many of the scientist astronauts that they handled assignments like this as well or better than the pilot astronauts. Bob eventually flew as a Mission Specialist on STS-9 and STS-35 Space Shuttle flights.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Apollo 17, Houston.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo ahead, Bob,\u201d Cernan answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Challenger<\/em>; we\u2019ve just lost about 16 dB (decibels) on your high-gain signal strength there. We\u2019re wondering if you happened to hit the switch there, has it moved, or could you give us a check on it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re nowhere near it. Stand by one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, Challenger<\/em>, that should be a Pitch of 21 and a Yaw of minus 45 [on the S-Band Steerable Antenna].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlus 21 and minus 45; Rog\u2026Bob, [give Jack] about 2 minutes here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBob, this is Jack. On that High Gain [antenna], I\u2019m up close to 3.9 (signal strength) now, which is better than when we landed. Do you want me to do anything to it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStand by on that,\u201d Parker said, looking over at Jack Knight, now manning the LM TELEMU console. With a thumbs-up from Knight, he came back with \u201c\u2026Leave it alone. It seems to have gone away, Jack. It may have been a ground problem. \u2026Did you guys adjust it, Jack?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Bob,\u201d I said, thinking he asked if we were adjusting something about the suits. \u201cWe had to fix the drink bags<\/a><\/span> and a couple other things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Did you guys adjust the high-gain antenna?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. I didn\u2019t touch it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCopy that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBuddy SLSS\u2019s in there?\u201d I asked and then answered. \u201cNo. That\u2019s over there.\u201d The Buddy SLSS (Special Life Support System) consisted of a hose that we could attach between our suits that would allow both of us to use one PLSS if the other had failed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, Challenger, we have you hot miked,\u201d warned Parker.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d I grunted. I may have been leaning against my Push-to-Talk switch on my oxygen hose.<\/p>\n

\u201cGene, next is putting the 500 mm camera together,\u201d<\/span> I began again with the EVA Prep Checklist \u00a0\u201c\u2026Let\u2019s see, \u2026take the tape off the Hasselblad and its lens, attach the 500 mm lens and the ring sight, and install black and white magazine R. \u2026Here\u2019s mag R. It was in the LCG (Liquid Cooled Garment) compartment.\u201d<\/span> This telescopic lens and camera would be used largely to photograph inaccessible areas of the Massifs.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext, we load up the ETB (Equipment Transfer Bag). You ready?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStand by\u2026okay,\u201d<\/span> Cernan replied, as he repositioned himself in the cabin.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst on the list comes the Cosmic Ray Experiment. It should already be in there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen the Buddy SLSS, \u2026the 500 mm camera, \u2026your 70 mm camera with color mag A\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are the film mags?\u201d<\/span> Cernan asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll extra mags are over here in the Right Hand Stowage Compartment. \u2026Here you go\u2026mag A. \u2026Next, we need a sample bag dispenser bracket for the camera, color mags B and C, black and white mags G and H,\u201d<\/span> I continued, handing him the necessary film magazines. \u201c\u2026Now we need the two lens brushes. They\u2019re in the Purse. \u2026Here\u2019s the [25 feet of] duck tape from my Stowage Compartment; our ONE pair of scissors,\u201d<\/span> emphasizing \u201cone\u201d in reference to the pair of scissors we had left in the Command Module after Evans had lost track of his (Chapter 7). \u201cI hope Ron is happy with our other pair. \u2026Now we need the Rover Sun Compass, Map Holder, and LRV Checklist. \u2026Can you reach them? They are in the Aft Flight Data File.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGot them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c \u2026And get the EVA-1 maps and Horizon Return Chart from the Forward Flight Data File along with the Map Ring. \u2026After you get those into the ETB, you want to put the EVA-1 Preparation and Post Card where we can get to it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChallenger<\/em>, Houston. Over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo ahead, Bob.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you guys get to the top of page 2-5, and I assume you\u2019re down still in (loading) the ETB from what your comments were on the hot mike there, when you get to the top of page 2-5, we\u2019d like you to put both DEMAND REGs to EGRESS. Over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob. Will do. We\u2019ll give you a call as we go along.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Bob,\u201d Cernan added, \u201cwhile I\u2019m thinking of it, we\u2019re working with one pair of scissors down here. We\u2019re going to take them out with us in the ETB. You might make a point of reminding us to bring them back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI copy that. Never did find Ron\u2019s, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sir, and I couldn\u2019t just leave him up there starving to death.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger on that.\u201d Each of us had a pair of scissors that normally traveled with us, individually; but Ron lost his in America\u2019s <\/em>cabin on the trip out. Cernan and I kidded him unmercifully on the way out and back about losing his scissors in a very small spacecraft. More seriously, a number of items in the surface timeline on the surface were based on having two pairs of scissors. One pair could be in the cabin and the other pair left outside – largely as a contingency tool for cutting Duck Tape – and then not have a worry about remembering to bring a pair back after each EVA. We finally decided, generously, of course, to leave one pair with Ron so that he could eat. You needed the scissors to cut open the plastic food bags.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>By the way, how\u2019s he doing?\u201d Cernan asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cStand by\u2026\u201d \u201c[Mattingly says] your buddy is doing great; and the [lunar radar] Sounder is also doing great, which is a surprise, I guess.\u201d Navy Commander and test pilot, T. K. Mattingly, always Ken to me, was CAPCOM for Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad to hear that,\u201d Cernan responded. \u201cThat [Sounder update] was no surprise, Bob. We wouldn\u2019t have taken it if it wasn\u2019t going to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought about that after I said it.\u201d Parker had been closer to the technical uncertainties and testing of the Sounder than we had been. With his typical lack of political sensitivity, he admitted to his surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cBob, I just turned the Urine Line Heater, ON,\u201d Cernan reported, after also closing the URINE LINE circuit breaker. The heater kept urine from freezing while it flowed to a holding tank in the Descent Stage. This and other reports before we went back on VOX for communications gave Mission Control a fix on where we were in the Checklist.<\/p>\n

\u201cCopy that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the physical status of the crew is excellent, by the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeautiful. The [Flight] Surgeon\u2019s happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

At this point, I attached the line for lowering the ETB to the surface to its handle and put this bag out of the way in the corner of my station in the cabin. This line has the archaic name of Lunar Equipment Conveyor (LEC) that harks back to Apollo 12 when Conrad and Bean thought they needed a conveyor and pulley system to get equipment to the surface. I clipped page 2-3 of the Lunar Surface Checklist over the AOT. This one page of procedures provided a transition to a one-man EVA in case of a PLSS failure, something we both never thought about again.<\/p>\n

\u201cSay, Bob, we\u2019re at the top of Page 2-5, and I forgot what it was you wanted me to do up there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d like you to have DEMAND REGs, both of them, go to EGRESS, please.\u201d This step somehow had been left out of the Lunar Surface Checklist, but had been picked up by the team supporting LM CONTROL. These pressure regulators had been place in the CABIN position prior to Powered Descent Initiation and left there until this point.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir,\u201d Cernan said, and I changed the position of PRESSURE REGS A and B on the panel behind me. \u201cOkay, they\u2019re EGRESS now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis will be fun, Gene. We get to empty our urine bags. Here comes the Urine Dump Line \u2013 you first.\u201d<\/span> The Urine Line could be attached to a port in the right leg of the suit. With the cabin pressure higher than the line pressure, the Urine Collection [and] Transfer Assembly (UTCA) could be drained. Afterwards, the suit port was capped to keep it clean during the EVA.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy turn. \u2026Not very satisfying, huh? Don\u2019t forget to turn the Urine Heater OFF and open the Urine Line Heater circuit breaker.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob, we\u2019re in the middle of the first paragraph at 115:15 in the timeline.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay; copy that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Jack, let me check your [suit] sippers and verify that they are locked shut. \u2026You\u2019re okay, now check mine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re good. \u2026My suit gas connection plugs are out and in the Purse, \u2026and I have my suit Relief Valve in my pocket.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the same.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow you need to get your [EVA] boots, Purge Valve, and boot donning lanyard from the aft stowage area. \u2026Give the valve and lanyard to me, and I will put them in the Purse. \u2026Okay, now get out your OPS (Oxygen Purge System).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCDR\u2019s OPS 5800 [psi],\u201d Cernan reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay; we copy 5800.\u201d The OPS (Oxygen Purge System) consisted of 5.7 pounds of high-pressure oxygen that would be mounted on top of the PLSS before donning. A hose from the OPS 3.7 psi pressure regulator connected to one of the two oxygen inlet ports of the pressure suit. The other inlet port connected to the main, re-circulated PLSS oxygen supply. If a problem arose with the normal oxygen flow or cooling supplied by a PLSS, the OPS\u2019s supply could be initiated by a cable actuator mounted on the side of the RCU (Remote Control Unit) that, in turn, would be attached to a bracket on the breast of the suit. If more than small amount of makeup oxygen were required, or if a significant leak appeared in the suit, or if the PLSS oxygen fan (pump) failed, the Purge Valve (flow regulator), in one of the two exhaust ports of the suit, could be activated to allow either 4 or 8 pounds per hour to flow through the suit. A red ball on a short cable attached to the Purge Valve\u2019s redundant locking pin made it easy to find and grip without seeing it if purging were required. In the extreme case, the OPS would give about 30 minutes of oxygen and some cooling. Removing and using the other OPS from the second PLSS would provide another 30 minutes of oxygen. The combination of using the second OPS and the Buddy SLSS for cooling and\/or makeup oxygen to get back to Challenger<\/em>, and then using the first OPS to get into the cabin and hooked up to spacecraft oxygen and cooling, should cover any reasonably plausible single PLSS failure of oxygen supply and\/or cooling.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy turn,\u201d<\/span> I said and replaced Cernan in the aft part of the cabin. I un-stowed my boots and Purge Valve and stowed my IV (IntraVehicular) pressure gloves where my boots had been. Then, I un-stowed my OPS. While I did this, Cernan donned his EVA boots.<\/p>\n

\u201cLMP\u2019s OPS is six thousand plus,\u201d Cernan reported after I handed him my OPS.<\/p>\n

\u201cCopy that, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Hank.\u201d Cernan was getting even for Parker\u2019s misidentification of his voice. Our voices, after being clipped in the high and low frequencies by the communications system, resembled each other, particularly during short transmissions when context and speaking style were not evident.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth [OPS] regulators are reading slightly under 4.0[psi],\u201d I added. This pressure lay in the upper range of what was expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cCopy that, Challenger<\/em>,\u201d Parker said cautiously, probably not knowing who had spoken.<\/p>\n

\u201cBob,\u201d Cernan said. \u201cThe URINE LINE HEATER is OFF and the URINE LINE breaker is OPEN, and we are down to applying anti-fog [to the inside of the helmets].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCopy that, Challenger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Next, we put the maintenance kits for the suit in the Purse, for ready accessibility, and temporarily stowed the LEVAs, helmets and EVA gloves in an Interim Stowage bag to keep them out of the way. We both attached our watches and a mirror to the EVA gloves at this time. The wrist mirror will allow viewing of the outlets and inlets on the suit and the controls on the bottom of the RCU.<\/p>\n

\u201cBob, the BRA (Bag Restraint Assembly) is stowed.\u201d The BRA consisted of two mesh sections that we used for temporary stowage of the helmets.<\/p>\n

\u201cCopy that, Challenger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re starting PLSS donning on the LMP, Cernan reported.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. Copy that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGene, UNLOCK the Forward Hatch Handle before we start PLSS donning. It will be tough to get to, later.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Got it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I\u2019ll read you though this,\u201d<\/span> Cernan said. \u201cSet your PLSS on the mid-step below the Engine Cover.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBoy, that is certainly easier than in the LM mockup! One-sixth gravity is a wonder.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, grab your OPS and check for any decay in OPS regulator pressure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo decay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUn-stow the OPS oxygen line and the antenna lead. \u2026Attach the OPS to the top of the PLSS, including the antenna lead.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStand by. \u2026 Okay, that\u2019s done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVerify the ice sublimator exhausts are clear.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re clear,\u201d<\/span> I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cUn-stow the straps and hoses and remove the electrical connector dust cap.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVerify that your AUXILIARY H2O, DIVERTER VALVE, OXYGEN AND PRIMARY H20 are all OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll OFF.\u201d<\/span> These valve levers all were at the lower right front corner of my PLSS so that they could be accessed while the suit is pressurized.<\/p>\n

\u201cConnect battery cable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cConnected.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, verify these are locked: battery connection, \u2026OPS antenna lead, \u2026OPS hose.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I responded positively to each item he called out.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, lets get this thing on you. \u2026Have to get these suit hoses above the lower straps. \u2026Now turn towards me\u2026so I can attach the oxygen hoses to your suit. \u2026I have re-verified that the AUX H20, DIVERTER, O2 AND PRIMARY H2O \u2013 have remained OFF. \u2026Now, lets connect the upper straps to the suit breast plate.\u201d<\/span> While Cernan performed these tasks, I kept the PLSS resting on the mid-step of the Engine Cover.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, let me attach your RCU to the breast plate and over the straps. \u2026I\u2019m verifying that the RCU\u2019s PUMP and FAN switches are OFF and the communications MODE SELECT is O.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe LMP has got the RCU connected to the PLSS,\u201d I reported to give Parker a check on where we were in the donning process. I had mis-spoke, as the RCU was actually attached to the suit breast plate, not the PLSS.<\/p>\n

\u201cCopy that, Jack.\u201d The RCU or Remote Control Unit on my chest had the line connecting it to the PLSS under my left arm. The RCU also serves as a mounting point for the Hasselblad camera and the OPS purge actuator. The controls out of normal view, for which we needed the wrist mirror, consisted of an ON-OFF switch for the PLSS water pump, a MAIN-OFF-MOM talk switch, rotary knob for Mission Control audio volume control, and an independent rotary \u201cblade\u201d on top of the rotary knob for controlling audio volume between the two of us. The \u201cMOM\u201d position provided a \u201cmomentary,\u201d that is, a backup \u201cpush-to-talk\u201d capability. The top of the RCU showed alarm windows for oxygen, suit pressure, cooling water, carbon dioxide, and whether an OPS purge is needed; a suit pressure and oxygen quantity gage; and a communications MODE SELECT SWITCH.<\/p>\n

In addition to the status information available to us, Bill Bates\u2019 PLSS support team in Mission Control would be modeling consumption of oxygen, water and battery power based on the time the PLSS was in use combined with our biomedical telemetry showing heart rate and respiration. The control for the level of cooling desired had been placed within reach on the lower right corner of the PLSS.<\/p>\n

\u201cBob,\u201d Cernan reported.\u201d I\u2019m going to get on a PLSS, now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Geno. Copy that,\u201d Parker replied. I then took Cernan through the same procedures he had just gone through with me.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Gene, set your PLSS on the mid-step, \u2026and check your OPS for any decay in regulator pressure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo decay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUn-stow the OPS oxygen line and the antenna lead, \u2026and ttach the OPS to the top of the PLSS, including the antenna lead.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVerify ice sublimator exhausts are clear,\u201d<\/span> I continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cClear,\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUn-stow the straps and hoses. \u2026Remove the electrical connector dust cap.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVerify AUXILIARY H2O, DIVERTER VALVE, OXYGEN AND PRIMARY H20 are OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cConnect battery cable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cConnected.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, verify these are locked: battery connection, \u2026OPS antenna lead, \u2026OPS hose.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll three, verified.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTurn a little toward me. \u2026Suit hoses go above the lower straps. \u2026Oxygen hoses attached, red to red and blue to blue. \u2026And, AUX H20, DIVERTER, O2 AND PRIMARY H2O are OFF. \u2026Upper PLSS straps to the suit breast plate.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTurn more toward me and I will attach your RCU to the breast plate, \u2026There. And it is over the PLSS straps. \u2026Your RCU\u2019s PUMP and FAN switches are OFF. \u2026 MODE SELECT is O.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBob. I\u2019ve got my PLSS on,\u201d Cernan said. Donning the two PLSSs took about 22 minutes. \u201cWe\u2019re picking it up with verifying the power-down configuration on the upper, right-hand corner of the EVA prep checklist.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Roger. Copy that.\u201d We now transitioned from the bulky Lunar Surface Checklist to a single, stiff Cue Card for the remainder of the preparations for the first EVA. At this point, we were in the same configuration that would precede the second and third EVAs, so the same Cue Card would be used then.<\/p>\n

\u201cCircuit breakers are configured.\u201d In this case, rather than looking at a panel diagram, the individual circuit breakers that should be open for the EVA had white dots on their ends.<\/p>\n

\u201cHouston copies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGene, you want to read this list of COMM switch positions to me?\u201d<\/span> These settings would set up the Challenger\u2019s <\/em>communications systems to receive our VHF EVA transmissions and relay them to Mission Control via S-Band.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, for audio you need S-BAND \u2013 T\/R (transmit and receive).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, S-BAND \u2013 T\/R,\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cICS (intercom) – T\/R.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cICS \u2013 T\/R<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRELAY \u2013 ON.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRELAY \u2013 ON.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMODE \u2013 VOX.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMODE \u2013VOX.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVOX SENSITIVITY \u2013 MAX.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVOX SENSITIVITY \u2013 MAX.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVHF A \u2013 T\/R and VHF B \u2013 RECEIVE.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVHF A \u2013 T\/R and VHF B \u2013 RECEIVE.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor COMM you need VHF A TRANSMITTER \u2013 VOICE.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVHF A to VOICE.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVHF A RECEIVER \u2013 ON.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVHF A RECEIVER is ON.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVHF B TRANSMITTER \u2013 OFF.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cB IS OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVHF B RECEIVER \u2013 ON.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cB is ON.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTELEMETRY BIOMED \u2013 OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBIOMED is OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSQUELCH for VHF A and B goes to noise threshold plus 1 and one half<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Noise, plus 1 and a half.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRECORDER \u2013 ON.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRECORDER \u2013 ON.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVHF ANTENNA \u2013 EVA<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVHF ANTENNA to EVA.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUPLINK SQUELCH \u2013 ENABLE.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cENABLED.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, read me mine,\u201d<\/span> Cernan asked, referring to the switches on his Comm panel.<\/p>\n

\u201cS-Band to T\/R.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cT\/R.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cICS (Intercomm System) to T\/R.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cT\/R.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRelay, OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMODE to VOX.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m in VOX,\u201d Cernan told me, then continued down the checklist with out me. \u201cVOX SENSITIVITY is MAX, [VHF] A is TRANSMIT\/RECEIVE and B is RECEIVE. \u2026You can open your [AUDIO] breaker and connect to the PLSS comm. \u2026Houston, I guess you heard that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s affirm. Loud and clear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust AUDIO breaker [, Jack]. Your AUDIO breaker, that\u2019s all. Want some help with that?\u201d With the PLSS on my back, I was having a hard time rotating so that I could see the Circuit Breaker panel next to my right shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cYep. Do it while you\u2019re facing that way. Just hang them (LM hoses) up. Best time to do it. All you\u2019ve got [left to do] is water. \u2026Okay, Bob. We\u2019re getting Jack up on PLSS Comm, and we\u2019ll be picking it up on the Comm check here on the left-hand column of the bottom sheet [of EVA Prep].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re following you,\u201d interjected Parker.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re on [PLSS Comm] and locked [, Jack],\u201d Cernan said as I opened the AUDIO Circuit Breaker so I could safely connect to PLSS Comm. \u201cOkay, and you got the cover [over the suit Comm port]? \u2026[Now,] Your AUDIO breaker, CLOSED.<\/p>\n

\u201cCLOSED,\u201d I replied.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, on your PLSS PTT (on the bottom of the RCU), go MAIN; that\u2019s [to the] right. Okay. PLSS MODE A.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA,\u201d I confirmed, and began to transmit to Mission Control with my VHF transmission being pick up by the Challenger\u2019s<\/em> EVA antenna and relayed to Earth via S-Band.<\/p>\n

\u201cTone – ON; VENT FLAG \u2013 P,\u201d Cernan said as he continute to read the Cue Card.<\/p>\n

\u201cGot a weak tone and a VENT FLAG \u2013 P,\u201d I noted.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d This tone and flag indicate that the pressure sensors work and that my suit is not yet pressurized.<\/p>\n

\u201cGot a good tone right now,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPRESS FLAG \u2013 O; and O FLAG\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cO and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[O2 Should be only] momentarily.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026O2 [FLAG] still there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, PLSS O2\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s (PLSS O2 FLAG) gone,\u201d I interrupted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s your PLSS O2 pressure gauge?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe O2\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGive Houston a call and give it to them,\u201d Cernan suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m reading 100 percent, Houston.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Jack. And we\u2019re reading you slightly garbled but loud.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you\u2019re loud and clear, Bob.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Jack. You got that, and I\u2019m reading you. How you reading me?\u201d Cernan asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re loud and clear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will not un-stow the [PLSS\/OPS] Antenna. You are a skosh garbled, but very readable\u2026\u201d Had I been unreadable, we would have temporarily un-stowed the PLSS antenna. \u201cOkay. Stay where you are. I\u2019m going to get mine. Okay. Audio breaker is…<\/p>\n

\u201cOpen your AUDIO breaker, Gene, and then I will connect you to PLSS comm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[Now,] your AUDIO breaker, is CLOSED,\u201d I said, working Cernan through getting on PLSS communications. \u201cAnd put both your VHF A and B to OFF,\u201d<\/span> \u201cOkay, on your PLSS PTT go MAIN. “\u2026Okay. PLSS MODE B.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cB. Okay. I got a tone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVENT FLAG \u2013 P.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI got a VENT FLAG \u2013 P.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPressure FLAG and O2 [FLAG] momentarily.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPressure flag, and I still got an O2 Flag.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOff with your tone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe tone is gone. The O2 flag cleared.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPLSS O2 quantity?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026I\u2019m reading 100 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d Minimum quantity limit was 85%. I don\u2019t remember what we would have done if one of our quantities was below that limit; possibly delayed the first EVA and gone through a recharge procedure as we would have to do after any EVA. Alternatively, to stay closer to the overall timeline, we might have transitioned to a one-man EVA and concentrated on deploying the ALSEP, only, leaving all exploration to the second and third EVA\u2019s after both PLSSs had been recharged to full capacity.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Note crewman in Mode B,\u201d Cernan read from the Checklist, \u201cthat\u2019s me, cannot hear Houston. Houston, broadcasting in the blind; 100 percent [oxygen] on the CDR.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, CDR. Houston reads you loud and clear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI read you loud and clear, Gene. How me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m reading you loud and clear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d I acknowledged.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGive me a call again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Okay. How do you read, Gene? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGive me again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c1, 2, 3, 4, 5.\u201d Part of the problem here may be that Cernan also hears me through the air as we have not put our helmets on, yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think so. I can\u2019t [be sure]. Okay. I\u2019m reading you. Okay. “PLSS. LMP go B [mode].”<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing B. (Pause) Try that. B\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. How do you read me, Jack?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re loud and clear, and I got a tone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Give me a short count once [more].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCounting. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.,\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re great.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a tone, too. I still got a Pressure and a Vent Flag. \u2026And, Houston, how do you read the LMP?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, LMP. We read you loud and clear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob. I\u2019m reading you loud and clear, and he\u2019s (me) not reading you in this mode. How me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI read you loud and clear also, Gene.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery, very, good. We\u2019re both going AR, now. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOught to get a tone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t, but my Vent Flag did clear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere it is. Tone and a Vent Flag.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s my tone and Vent Flag,\u201d I confirmed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Jack. The wheel is Houston and the blade is me. Hello there, Houston. How are you reading CDR?\u201d The wheel-like adjustment on the RCU controlled our audio volume from Mission Control, while the blade-like adjustment on top of this rotary wheel controlled audio volume between the two of us.<\/p>\n

\u201cRead CDR loud and clear. And, for your information, your TM (telemetry) on the PLSSs looks good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. \u2026How do you read, Houston? This is the LMP.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHouston reads LMP loud and clear now. You\u2019re much clearer than you were before, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Jack, we gave them our [oxygen] quantities already; so, SQUELCH, VHF B LMP, FULL DECREASE..\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSQUELCH B is to FULL DECREASE, huh?\u201d The unresolved mysteries of communications continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s affirm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. It\u2019s FULL DECREASE.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. On [Panel] 16, leave that [Liquid Cooled Garment] PUMP breaker CLOSED.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d We had Challenger\u2019s <\/em>LCG pump off during the PLSS checkouts. Now, we would use LM cooling until we were ready to depressurize the cabin and vacuum sublimation of ice would become effective for PLSS cooling.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, that\u2019s cold; but that\u2019s good. Okay. On [Panel] 16, ECS, CABIN REPRESS \u2013 CLOSED.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that a verify?\u201d I asked as it was already CLOSED.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a verify.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s CLOSED.\u201d This would allow us to re-pressurize when we returned.<\/p>\n

\u201cSUIT FAN DELTA-P [<\/p>\n

[CB] \u2013 OPEN.\u201d The sensor powered through this circuit breaker regulates the pressure in the Suit Loop. \u201cFan\u201d referred to two air pumps in the Suit Loop across which the Delta-P would be measured.<\/p>\n

\u201cDELTA-P [CB] is OPEN.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd SUIT FAN number 2 [CB] \u2013 OPEN. SUIT FAN number 1 circuit breaker remained CLOSED for the time being; however, this would test the redundant circulation system.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Number] 2\u2019s OPEN.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. And I\u2019ve got Suit Fan number 2. There\u2019s a MASTER ALARM. \u2026Okay. And I heard it (Fan 2) run down. \u2026I don\u2019t see a\u2026 No, there\u2019s not an ECS CAUTION [light] until that thing (Fan 2) runs down in about a minute or so. We\u2019ll watch for that.\u201d We are disconnecting from and powering down the cabin ECS system for both our absence and to minimize power use during that time. The Caution and Warning System would warn us that both fans were not operating and was expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cSUIT GAS DIVERTER \u2013 verify PULL-EGRESS.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDIVERTER is PULL-EGRESS.\u201d Now, we were back to ECS valve changes that I had to make on the panel behind my LMP station. This action shut off the flow of oxygen into the cabin.<\/p>\n

\u201cCABIN GAS RETURN \u2013 verify EGRESS.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRETURN is EGRESS.\u201d Now, cabin oxygen could no longer flow into the suit loop.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSUIT CIRCUIT RELIEF \u2013 verify AUTO.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRELIEF is AUTO.\u201d This regulator prevented pressure in the suit loop from exceeding 4.3 psi by venting excess oxygen into the cabin.<\/p>\n

\u201cOPS CONNECT. You ready?\u201d Cernan asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYep,\u201d answered the astronaut-cowboy from Silver City.<\/p>\n

\u201cSUIT ISOLATION VALVE \u2013 ACTIVATE OVERRIDE.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOVERRIDE.\u201d This cabin valve normally would be in the SUIT FLOW position. It includes a pressure sensor that, in the event of a significant pressure drop due to a suit circuit malfunction, would automatically put the valve in the SUIT DISCONNECT position. By manually disconnecting the suit from the suit circuit, we could remove Challenger\u2019s<\/em> inlet and outlet oxygen hoses and replace them with the OPS and PLSS hoses.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Disconnect your LM O2 hoses,\u201d Cernan read.<\/p>\n

\u201cLM O2 hoses are disconnected.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd they\u2019re stowed, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight.\u201d I had hung the two hoses behind my right shoulder.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cConnect OPS O2 hose to PGA (suit), BLUE TO BLUE.\u201d PGA stands for Pressure Garment Assembly, and we almost never referred to the suit in this way except in the Checklists. All input connections are colored blue and outlet connections are red.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is it?\u201d I said as I could not see the connection below my neck ring.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s sticking right. \u2026Turn around. No, that\u2019s not right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, that\u2019s the water [inlet].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCould you turn towards me a little bit?\u201d Cernan asked. \u201cTurn to the left. There you are, because I got to\u2026Okay. Here it comes, right here. OPS hose under [your arm]. No, right here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHere it is,\u201d I declared having finally put my finger on the right inlet port.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me get it. I\u2019ll get it under your electrical cable. \u2026Because you\u2019re going to want a Purge Valve [next to the hose] in a minute.\u201d The Purge Valve would allow me to intentionally open a hole in the suit for OPS oxygen to flow through, if the PLSS circulation failed. \u201cThat is locked and the lock-lock [on the suit port]. \u2026Move your arm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis [part] is up [for access]. Did you do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will in a second\u2026Move your arm. I can\u2019t see.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m trying to.\u201d Maneuvering and lifting arms, even un-pressurized, was a challenge in these close quarters.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re right here,\u201d Cernan said, pointing to the Checklist. \u201cOkay? And I\u2019m going to Connect OPS hose to PGA BLUE TO BLUE, [and] retrieve Purge Valve [from the Purse]. Let me give you a Purge Valve, and I\u2019ll pick that up, Jack. \u2026The cockpit\u2019s just as small as the mock-up [where we practiced]. \u2026Here you are. You verify it\u2019s (Purge Valve) in LOW [FLOW]. [Yes, that\u2019s right,] LOW\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s in LOW.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSlip to the right just a skosh.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah; slipped it to the right just a skosh.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, man, that\u2019s easy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhee,\u201d I exclaimed, laughing. \u201cPin\u2019s installed.\u201d This is a one inch-long Latching Pin on the other end of the short cable with the red ball. The pin kept the Purge Valve from being activated, unintentionally.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I might be an iceberg when I get out there, but it\u2019s going to feel good.\u201d We were pre-cooling our bodies, the water-cooled under ware (LCG), and the suit for 15 minutes or so we would have between disconnecting from LM cooling and having the cabin depressurized enough for the PLSS sublimator to be effective for cooling.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. It\u2019s (the Latching Pin) in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy Purge Valve\u2019s [set to] Low [FLOW], locked,\u201d Cernan said, \u201cand the Pin\u2019s in. \u2026Want some help with that? I want to take a look at it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s the old MASTER ALARM,\u201d I called out, unnecessarily.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat should be the [second] WATER SEPARATOR.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d We had turned the two Separators in the Suit Loop off earlier, but it took about three minutes for the sensor to find that out. This possibly was longer than normal, but may have been slowed by the reduced gravity.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt (the water separator light) is ON,\u201d Cernan noted. This light is one of two ECS caution lights and below the O2\/H2O Quantity Monitor rotary switch that is below my attitude indicator. These lights warn of off-limits in CO2 concentration as well as the water separator.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. It\u2019s (Purge Valve) barely on. \u2026You\u2019re going to have to push my lock-lock [on the Purge Valve] down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201dI\u2019ll get it,\u201d Cernan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know why, but [I can\u2019t feel it like in training],\u201d I commented.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you check mine, too,\u201d Cernan replied. \u201cLet\u2019s see it. I\u2019m going to have to check you anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSee if I can turn it this way,\u201d I said<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026That\u2019s why; because it wasn\u2019t locked,\u201d Cernan realized. \u201cIs that where you want it; facing down or in? You don\u2019t want it there, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I don\u2019t want it there,\u201d I said, emphatically. \u201cMust have had it in the wrong [orientation]. \u2026Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that the way you want it?\u201d Cernan asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. It\u2019s there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe lock-lock is down, and it\u2019s verified LOW [FLOW] and the pin still is in. \u2026Look at mine while you\u2019re there,\u201d Cernan requested.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. It\u2019s facing in. Lock\u2019s in. Stand by, \u2026it\u2019s LOW [FLOW] Pin\u2019s in; it\u2019s good,\u201d I confirmed.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me get this thing right here,\u201d Cernan stated. \u201cReach that (OPS) hose for me under my arm. \u2026Put it under the electrical cable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d I agreed. As I recall, we had not figured out the importance of proper routing of all the hoses and cables in training, maybe because Earth gravity or repeated use took out most of the elastic memory that would be in a new OPS hose.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019ll be better, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Cernan asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYup. \u2026It\u2019s there and locked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVerify lock-lock.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s locked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the [dust] cover is going on [over the Purge Valve],\u201d I told him. This cover made sure that dust would not bind the actuator, if needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. \u2026Look pretty good under that [cover]?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it does,\u201d I assured him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. Okay. You\u2019re covered.\u201d In actual practice during an EVA, we would have helped each other activate the OPS purge if needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019re getting to our favorite part here,\u201d Cernan then said with a laugh, as we prepared to put the helmets and gloves on and pressurize the suits. This would make it triply difficult to move around in the cabin as well as accelerate the heat build up when we went off LM cooling. \u201cPurge Valves are installed on both. PGA DIVERTER VALVE; put it VERTICAL.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s VERTICAL,\u201d I confirmed. This valve position put all the PLSS oxygen flow through the neck-ring. The horizontal position would have diverted some flow to the torso to help remove sweat moisture; however, the LCG cooling was so effective that we never needed that function. It would have been used, of course, if the LGC system failed.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommander repeat [OPS connect]. That\u2019s done.\u201d Cernan had read an instruction in the Checklist that we had performed, already. We had decided in training that it worked better for us to do the OPS CONNECT procedures together. \u201c \u2018Drink\u2019, Cernan read. \u201cLet\u2019s take a drink, and close the DESCENT [STAGE] WATER.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy [EVA] Meal is already prepared,\u201d Cernan said, referring to the fruit stick in its holder near the neck ring. \u201cAnd drink and position mikes [as well]\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, those little [head] covers are next,\u201d I said, referring to the helmets.<\/p>\n

\u201c[I\u2019ve] had enough water today [that] you could say you \u2018discovered\u2019 me. I\u2019m \u2018water on the Moon\u2019,\u201d Cernan joked. \u201c\u2026Okay. Let\u2019s turn the DESCENT WATER – OFF and let\u2019s stow this [Water Gun] and [hose].\u201d<\/p>\n

[\u201cWater on the Moon\u201d had not been proven until investigators in 2008 found water inside the orange volcanic ash we would sample on EVA-2, and water was detected in the ejecta plume the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter\u2019s LCROSS 2010 impact into a permanently shadowed crater wall at the South Lunar Pole.[30]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> The discovery of increased concentration of hydrogen toward the lunar pole by the neutron spectrometer team on the Lunar Prospector mission, however, had led to intense speculation that water-ice existed at the lunar surface along with solar wind hydrogen.[31]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> It is not yet certain that the water released by LCROSS and sensed by the LRO instruments originates from indigenous sources or from cometary impacts and\/or solar wind proton interactions with the lunar regolith over hundreds of millions of years. Indigenous lunar water will be considered in Chapter 11 in connection with Station 4 discoveries at Shorty Crater.]<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. (DESCENT) WATER\u2019s going OFF\u2026DESCENT WATER\u2019s OFF.\u201d This valve, directly behind my station, controlled access to the water tank in the Descent Stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cPosition your mike. \u2026Okay, mikes are good. \u2026Top of the page [on the Cue Card]. Before we turn the {PLSS] fans on, let\u2019s make sure we\u2019ve got [everything right]. \u2026All I\u2019ve got hooked here is the [LM)] water. Those cables (hoses) are all stowed. They\u2019re not in your way, are they?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not in my way,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n

\u201c[They look] Pretty good. Let\u2019s [try putting them more out of the way].<\/p>\n

\u201c[This water hose could go over here,] though,\u201d I suggested. \u201cDo you want to put this [hose over there]?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. \u2026That\u2019s probably a little bit better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. Over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo ahead, Houston.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We\u2019re still seeing the Commander\u2019s Suit Disconnect Valve\u2019s in CONNECT.\u201d Parker meant to say Isolation Valve.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s that?\u201d I responded, puzzled, but reaching around to my left, I moved Cernan\u2019s SUIT ISOLATION VALVE to DISCONNECT.<\/p>\n

\u201cYep, there it goes,\u201d verified Parker. \u201cWe got it. Thank you.\u201d In going through the earlier OPS CONNECT procedures together, I had neglected to disconnect Cernan\u2019s suit when I disconnected mine. Had we followed the Checklist sequentially as written, with me first and then Cernan, this would have not happened. Good catch on LM CONTROL\u2019s part, as we would have otherwise had oxygen flowing into the cabin when we started to depress for the EVA. The open suit circuit would have been caught then but would have delayed things a bit.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Cernan went back to the Checklist. \u201cWe got to get the PLSS fan on. Don\u2019t forget that\u2019s [on PLSS] battery power. [Now,] We can don our helmets, check our drink bags, [for position], don our LEVAs, [put] protective visors [down], [and] secure our tool harness. \u2026Our O2 umbilicals are already stowed. CDR\u2019s under the handhold. Verify the following. Now, where we pick up our\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave to put the helmets on [first], I think.\u201d Helmets consist of a clear Lexan globe with back padding as an inside head rest. The LEVA (Lunar Extravehicular Visor Assembly) fitted on top of the helmet and provided a gold plated sliding cover for the front that cut out most solar UV radiation and a shield above the eyes for shade from direct sun light. The LEVA also gave additional passive thermal protection to the head.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, yep. Then we pick up our gloves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon.\u201d Why I engaged in this \u201cAh shucks\u201d dialog, I have no idea.<\/p>\n

\u201cYep, there it is,\u201d Cernan said, joining in. \u201cOkay. Well, let\u2019s do one at a time here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s (helmet) mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s yours? Okay. Do you want to turn your [PLSS] fan on for circulation?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I guess I better. Fan\u2019s ON,\u201d I said, using the switch on the RCU.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll pull this (fruit stick) out just to get it out of your way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll your candy bars and lemonade, and all that jazz are all clear. Water [nipple, too], I should say\u2026\u201d The fruit stick consisted of about ten inches of dried fruit mixed with a high calorie binder and enclosed inside a long, narrow bag. You had to learn to pull enough of the stick out of the bag with each bite so that you could take the next bite and not lose the stick down in the bag. The water nipple allowed drinking by sucking from a flat quart bag that was attached inside the suit, just below the neck-ring.<\/p>\n

Cernan then helped me seat the helmet on the neck ring and rotate it so it locked in place with a sharp click. \u201cMmm. That sounded good,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cTry it. Okay? It looks good here, Jack\u2026[Do you] want your LEVA?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess so,\u201d and he began to place the LEVA over my helmet.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Enjoy it in there; you\u2019re going to be in there for a few hours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t think of any place I\u2019d rather be right now,\u201d I responded.<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds like you\u2019re in there, too. Oh, [LEVA\u2019s] too far back? Okay, that\u2019s better\u2026I\u2019m freezing my “you-know-what” off!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe, too,\u201d and we both had a good chuckle.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes that look lined up to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks pretty good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Let me [work on the back of the LEVA a little]…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait a minute,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me get this [back flap] down [and] around. Okay. That\u2019s around behind you; thermally protected back there. That\u2019s below the OPS hose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, I\u2019m hoping to get out of this [cabin and get] warm,\u201d I commented with a laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. You\u2019re thermally [isolated]. \u2026Let me double-check that. The helmet is locked. Your visor is locked. It\u2019s one thing you don\u2019t want to lose among some others. \u2026Okay, you want to give me a hand?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot particularly,\u201d I answered, referring to the difficulty of working in the cabin, wearing a pressurized suit.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, man,\u201d Cernan exclaimed as I started to drop the helmet over his head and everything else. \u201cWhere did that come from?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWatch your nose, drink bag, candy bars, popcorn!\u201d I joked. With audible clicks, his helmet locked into place.<\/p>\n

\u201cSqueeze hard back there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWant your fan [on]?\u201d I queried.<\/p>\n

\u201cYep.\u201d So I moved the Fan switch on his RCU to ON.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks good,\u201d I observed after double-checking the seating of the helmet ring on the neck ring of the suit.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. I can hear the fan running. Oh, man. Whew!\u201d Cernan exclaimed, smelling the chemical odors inside of the suit. \u201cLooks good here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. That\u2019s all right [about those smells].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere you go,\u201d he acknowledged.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s new. Never been used before!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMake sure that [LEVA] flap in back goes below that OPS hose,\u201d Cernan directed.<\/p>\n

I took care of the flap and then asked, \u201cWant to put your protective visor down? Yeah, if you got that thing all [set]. \u2026You got it all down?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYep. You happy with it (the LEVA flaps) back there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir. You\u2019re nice and protected,\u201d I assured him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood Velcro. \u2026Okay. You\u2019re all covered here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Not my other one, is it? No.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Ohhh!\u201d Cernan said, looking at the Checklist. \u201cI think we\u2019ve got to get tool harnesses here. \u2018Don LEVAs.\u2019 Look at that scratch right in the middle of that thing. Okay. \u2018Don LEVAs and lower protective visor.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c \u2018Secure harness and self-doff straps.\u2019 Okay. Stay where you are. \u2026Can\u2019t miss it. \u2026Okay.\u201d The self-doffing straps, to be used incase the other crewman cannot assist for some reason, secured with Velcro to the side of the LEVA. If pulled, the tool harness would be released, too easily it would turn out. \u201c \u2018Stow the LM O2 [hoses]. And comm [cable].\u2019 Okay. \u2026They\u2019re all stowed; everything except [LM] water [hoses], right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVerify the following: \u2018Check your helmet and visor.\u2019 Okay. You check me. I\u2019ll read them. \u2018Helmet and visor, aligned and locked.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s locked,\u201d I verified.<\/p>\n

\u201cO2 covers all locked. There\u2019s a peek at them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s locked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPurge Valve. Everything down there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s locked; that\u2019s locked.\u201d Two locks had to be checked on the Purge Valve, the Valve itself and the Release lanyard.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Comm Carrier.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStand by, \u2026That\u2019s locked,\u201d I continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cDiverter Valve is vertical.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cComm is that way. Diverter Valve is vertical.\u201d Again, this put all oxygen flow to Cernan\u2019s helmet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne more time,\u201d Cernan declared, verifying my setup. \u201cYour helmet is locked; purge valve, locked. \u2026Yep. That\u2019s (O2 connector) locked; that\u2019s (water connector) locked; that\u2019s (comm connector) locked. And, let me see, \u2026let me see! Yes sir, and that\u2019s locked. Don\u2019t let anything to chance, today. And the Diverter Valve is vertical. Comm – you checked [mine], too?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVerify your old white dots [on your circuit breaker panel],\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Old white dots, \u2026my old white dots, \u2026look good to me.\u201d All circuit breakers that should be OPEN during the EVA had white dots on them, making it much easier to verify what should be OPEN and CLOSED.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Can you] move a little? I asked\u201d I needed to turn to my right more so I could see Panel 16 and verify the positions of the circuit breakers.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019ll move.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGot it,\u201d Cernan said. \u201c\u2026I\u2019m going to miss Danny [Schaiewitz] being out there to hand us those light PLSSs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right\u2026\u201d Danny worked for the PLSS manufacturer, Hamilton-Standard, and, along with many others, managed our equipment during EVA training and tests.[32]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cYou want it (EVA Prep Cue Card)?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. I want the EVA decals [checked], also, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201dYup.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhite dots plus decals,\u201d Cernan repeated.<\/p>\n

\u201cRog.\u201d<\/p>\n

Okay, Bob, we\u2019re turning the [Cue Card] page [over],\u201d Cernan informed Parker and Mission Control.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We\u2019re right with you,\u201d replied Parker.<\/p>\n

\u201c \u2018Don EV gloves\u2019,\u201d I read<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay; on [with the gloves]…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that it? That\u2019s it. \u2018Don EV gloves.\u2019 Doing a little greasing in here.\u201d Cernan used a hand grease to minimize abrasion from flesh rubbing on the inside of the rubber glove. I wore thin nylon glove liners that, I believe, proved to be more successful. We both ended up with chaffing, but Cernan\u2019s was significantly worse that mine.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd make sure your Wrist Locks are LOCKED. Glove Straps adjusted and cover the Wrist Rings!\u2019 Golly! \u2026I sure missed hearing it (wrist lock) click, but they are locked. One of them is, anyway. \u2026Okay, Jack. I verify, \u201c\u2026Cernan paused because I was laughing. \u201cWhat?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess what?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t go on any easier in one-sixth g, do they?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey (glove tie-straps) break just as easily, too,\u201d I added.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I\u2019ve got my one glove locked,\u201d Cernan reported. \u201c\u2026One of the old dust covers [on]\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI never had that (tie strap break) happen in training; you did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s (his glove) locked,\u201d Cernan finally confirmed. \u201cThat\u2019s about as locked as it can go. Boy, I\u2019d hate like the devil to have that (glove lock ring) pop open. Okay; that\u2019s very good. You want me to help you with one, or can you get it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t know. I\u2019ve only worked on one so far,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got a free hand before I grease it up.\u201d<\/p>\n

While he helped me, I said, \u201cI broke that one (strap)\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m telling you, from the looks of that soil out there, that drill may have a job ahead of it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d I speculated, \u201cI didn\u2019t have a chance to mention that. I don\u2019t think the regolith is very thick, and I think you\u2019ve got rocks below it\u2026\u201d This prediction proved totally wrong for most of the valley area.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou got that [glove on]?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, how does it look?\u201d I asked<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me take a look. \u2026No.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t make it, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, well, let me\u2026 Hold your hand up here,\u201d Cernan asked, hold it up here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks good on my side,\u201d Cernan declared. \u201cHow is your side?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood over here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me pull this [wrist cover] down for you,\u201d Cernan offered. \u201cOkay?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet the old other hand\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. That\u2019s locked\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd my other glove is locked,\u201d Cernan said and then continued, laughing, \u201cNow, for the fun in back. Oh, me; oh, my.\u201d Here, he is referring to getting his glove strap tight.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I got it! I think I got it,\u201d I mimicked, thinking of Professor Higgins in \u201cMy Fair Lady.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPull it and let go. Isn\u2019t that the word?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what they tell me. Want me to get it?\u201d I offered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got mine. \u2026No, I got it. [Have you] verified yours [is] locked?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth my gloves are verified locked. \u2026How does that grab you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay; feels good,\u201d I answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs your mirror on tight enough?\u201d Cernan asked, referring to a small metal mirrow on my left wrist that allowed me to see the front of the suit and the controls under the Remote Control Unit on my chest. \u201c[Cuff] Checklist on tight enough\u2026That\u2019s the best I can do; I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow what?\u201d I asked as Cernan had the EVA Cue Card in his hand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWrist rings are covered. \u2018Note if PGA biting\u2026\u2019No, mine\u2019s all right. Your\u2019s okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo; it\u2019s fine.\u201d The \u201cbiting\u201d comment referred to the possibility that the pressure in the suit might decrease due to carbon dioxide removal before we went on PLSS oxygen.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. \u2018LGC (Liquid Cooled Garment) cold as required.\u2019 We been on cold all this time, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d We stayed as cool as possible by circulating Challenger\u2019s<\/em> cooling water through our underwear until the last moment. The PLSS cooling system would be ineffective until its sublimator was exposed to vacuum. That would mean about 15 minutes until the cabin became fully depressurized and PLSS cooling became effective.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Guess you can open that [LGC PUMP] breaker, and I\u2019ll stop shivering,\u201d Cernan said with a laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, we can disconnect the LM water hoses. Let\u2019s help each other with those, so we don\u2019t screw up the other hoses.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[LGC] breaker\u2019s open,\u201d I reported<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me turn around this way [toward you].\u201d I said as I turned toward Cernan so he could get to my cabin water hose and disconnect it.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Go ahead and I\u2019ll\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want to get mine or you\u2026?.\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019ll get yours [first],\u201d stated Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst of all I\u2019m going to take that (LM water hose) off. \u2026Okay. Now let me get your other one [from the PLSS]. There it is. Okay. We did this before. Stand right there. \u2026It\u2019s locked, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is locked,\u201d he verified. [I\u2019ll] get the [dust] cover on\u2026Okay. The cover is on. Okay. Yours off?\u201d Cernan meant his water hose that I was now disconnecting.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet that in a second,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYours (PLSS hose) was just laying there, too.\u201d The hoses were stiff with their packing memory.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Hang on,\u201d I said, impatiently.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll push towards you\u2026\u201d He was trying to make it easier. \u201cMake sure that thing (inlet) falls in the hole, because yours didn\u2019t right away. \u2026Did it fall in?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Yeah, it\u2019s in the hole. Okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDust cover on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDust cover\u2019s on,\u201d I confirmed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd my PGA is going to start biting here if we don\u2019t get going\u2026Okay. \u2018PLSS DIVERTER…\u2019 I\u2019ve got to turn my oxygen on a second, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, so do I\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

We both began to feel around the RCU, again getting use to where the various controls were positioned, with Cernan saying, \u201cThat\u2026That\u2026There it is. Okay. It\u2019s ON\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[O2 switch is] a little hard to get it off, isn\u2019t it,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Okay. Mine is back OFF.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, mine is [too].\u201d<\/p>\n

Cernan went back to the EVA Cue Card. \u201c\u2018PLSS DIVERTER VALVE \u2013 MIN; verify.\u2019\u201d This valve was on the lower left, forward corner of the PLSS.<\/p>\n

\u201cMine\u2019s MIN.\u201d This setting on PLSS cooling would keep water flowing through the LCG, but would not add water vapor to the cabin and slow the depressurization.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018PLSS PUMP \u2013 ON.\u2019 That\u2019s [moves] to the right [on the RCU]. \u2018PRESSURE REGS A and B, EGRESS.\u2019 I think we\u2019re already at Egress.\u201d Fullerton had told us to put the REGS at that setting almost an hour and half previously.<\/p>\n

\u201cPump\u2019s ON. We\u2019re in EGRESS.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, my pump\u2019s ON. I can feel it running.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep talking,\u201d I prompted. I was getting impatient to get outside.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Pressure Integrity Check. Okay. “PLSS O2 \u2013 ON.” You ready for this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so,\u201d I said, referring to this necessary but time consuming test of the suits.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPLSS O2 \u2013 ON. Mine\u2019s ON. \u2018Pres[sure] Flag and O2 Flag [will] clear [at] 3.1 to 3.4 [psi].\u2019 Okay. I\u2019m coming up. I know that\u2026Gee, it\u2019s 10 minutes to 6 at home,\u201d Cernan observed, looking at his NASA issue Omega Speedmaster wristwatch. \u201cI\u2019m still coming up (in pressure).\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep coming up. Just got mine (PLSS O2 switch) on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, okay. Well, I\u2019m ahead of you then\u2026The PRESS FLAG will clear [at] 3.7 – correction – 3.1 to 3.4 [psi].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you (the Checklist) want me to do when I\u2019m pressurized?\u201d I asked, as Cernan was holding the Que Card.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we want to make an integrity check.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah; but then what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you reach those (LM) water hoses right there? By chance? Before you get too hard? \u2026Stow them out of the way. \u2026When you get up [to pressure]. \u2026Okay. PRESS FLAG cleared on the commander. \u2026Okay. The O2 FLAG did not clear. I\u2019m at 3.8…Okay. O2 Flag cleared on the commander.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStill got an O2 Flag on the LMP,\u201d I noted, but my PRESS FLAG had cleared.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, you\u2019re not up [to 3.1 to 3.4psi] yet; I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Cernan acknowledged. \u201cI\u2019m going to take my PLSS O2 Off for one [minute]. Counting 1 minute\u2026 57. Let me know when you\u2019re up, Jack, and I\u2019ll give you a minute hack.\u201d The one-minute test provided a check on any leaks in the overall suit system.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. I\u2019m clear [on the O2 FLAG],\u201d I reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. You up [to pressure]?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can turn your PLSS O2 off any time. Let me know when. Can you reach it? If you can\u2019t, I\u2019ll get it for you,\u201d offered Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you get it,\u201d I said, after finding I was unable to bend my arm enough to reach my RCU in these cramped quarters. Outside, I could throw my arm up into a shoulder joint detent and then reach across to the RCU.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Mark it.\u201d Cernan timed the test on his wristwatch.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re on the 30-second mark, and I\u2019m on the minute mark.\u201d Cernan had his timing reversed, as he was ahead of me<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, and I\u2019m at 3.8,\u201d I observed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll give you a hack when\u2026 I\u2019m coming up on 45 seconds. \u2026Okay. I\u2019m one minute; I\u2019m going back on [with O2]. Okay, Houston. Commander went from 3.8 to about 3.67[psi]. I\u2019ll get yours on when you need it on, Jack.\u201d This drop showed a normal change due to breathe-down and residual filling of small, isolated portions of the suit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI copy that, Commander.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we\u2019ll pick Jack up here in about 10 more seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Jack. I\u2019m turning on [your O2]. Did you mark it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Houston; 3.8 to 3.6[psi]. \u2026Hello, Houston; you copy the LMP?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. Copy the LMP…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStanding by for your Go for DEPRESS,\u201d Cernan stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, \u2026and Challenger,<\/em> You\u2019ll be glad to know you are GO for DEPRESS.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Robert. I understand we are GO for DEPRESS.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s affirm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Jack,\u201d Cernan said, getting two steps ahead of the Checklist. \u201cCan you reach the FRONT [DUMP] VALVE, or do you want me to [get the OVERHEAD DUMP VALVE]?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, let me turn around here.\u201d I needed to turn about ninety degrees left from my front-facing position to get my right arm free so I could squat and both see and reach the valve on the forward hatch.<\/p>\n

Before I turned, however, Cernan went back to the Cue Card and said, \u201cOkay, on [circuit breaker Panel] 16\u2026 First, around on 16, CABIN REPRESS – OPEN.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay; [on] 16, \u2026Circuit breaker is coming open.\u201d This prevents automatic re-pressurization when the open hatch valve begins to lower cabin pressure.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, and CABIN REPRESS VALVE – CLOSED on the panel [behind you].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. The valve is closed,\u201d I reported after turning to my right and pushing sideways against the front panels so I could see and reach the valve.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. If you can\u2019t reach it (the valve ion the Forward Hatch), I guess I can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just had a momentary tone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo did I. I got it, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it was when you closed the REPRESS VALVE. \u2026Can you reach it (the Front Hatch valve)? If not, I\u2019ll reach the overhead one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you better reach the overhead one.\u201d In suited training in the one-g mockup, I could bend the suit and reach the Forward Hatch Valve without any great effort; however, in one-sixth gravity on the Moon, the lessened weight of the suit made this much more difficult. Cernan, on the other hand, only had to raise his arm to reach the Overhead Hatch Valve. Raising his arm, nonetheless, required some maneuvering, as I was facing him at this point and he needed to turn to face the rear of the cabin.<\/p>\n

\u201cSlip over to your right [toward] your window. \u2026Some more. \u2026Let me turn here. \u2026Wait a minute, I got to turn [to reach the overhead valve].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. How far down are we going to take it? 3.5 (psi), right?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, wait a minute. I\u2019m not there yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I just want to make sure that I\u2019m watching (the cabin pressure gauge).\u201d Once the cabin pressure reaches 3.5psi, Cernan will put the Overhead Dump Valve in AUTO. In that position, it will only open to relieve pressure if the cabin goes over 5.4psi. Our suit pressures will go up at first, due to normal delay in regulator response, and then they will slowly decay. If this all happens as planned, it will be another good check on the integrity of the suits.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay; now. Okay, [overhead] coming open. You ready? You reading the checklist?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStand by: [DUMP VALVE] – AUTO. [CABIN] REPRESS [valve] is CLOSED,\u201d I read.<\/p>\n

\u201cSay when.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou ready?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait a minute; wait a minute; wait a minute.\u201d Cernan was getting impatient while I made sure everything was right by the Checklist.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGot the wrong place [in the Checklist]. \u2018OPEN, then AUTO at 3.5\u2019 [for the Overhead Valve],\u201d I read again to remind us. \u201cOkay; go ahead [and OPEN].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHere it comes. I can see daylight through it (the Valve).\u201d At this point, we are running about 20 minutes behind the Timeline.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, it\u2019s (cabin pressure) coming down. \u2026That\u2019s 4 [psi]. Stand by.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMark. 3.5,\u201d I called.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s (overhead valve) OFF.\u201d Cernan meant AUTO rather than OFF.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd your cuff gauge should not be below 4.6, and mine\u2019s at\u2026\u201d I told him.<\/p>\n

\u201cMine\u2019s at 5.0,\u201d he interrupted.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Mine\u2019s] 5.1. \u2026Okay. The suit circuit is locked up at 4.5,\u201d I reported. We already had disconnected from the Challenger\u2019s<\/em> suit circuit when I had closed the SUIT ISOLATION valves. With the SUIT CIRCUIT RELIEF valve in AUTO, that circuit would bleed down to about 4.3psi. Meanwhile, we would wait for the suit pressure to decrease, as we used up oxygen and carbon dioxide was extracted by the PLSS\u2019s LiOH canisters. \u201cWe\u2019re at 3.5 [psi cabin pressure] and holding. And I\u2019m decaying. I\u2019m below 5.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo am I,\u201d Cernan confirmed.<\/p>\n

\u201cVerify that; okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll start my watch,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe verify and we\u2019re counting,\u201d interjected Parker, looking over our telemetry shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cWatches started.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d I said, going back to the Checklist. ” \u2018Overhead or Forward DUMP VALVE \u2013 OPEN\u2019.”<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Here it comes [OPEN].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it\u2019s (pressure) going down.\u201d This began the official start of the EVA-1 even though we had been on PLSS oxygen, power and water for almost ten minutes. Now we had fully transitioned to a new spacecraft: the A7LB EMU or Extravehicular Mobility Unit, better known among the operators as \u201cthe pressure suit\u201d and among the public as \u201cthe space suit\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>You going to want me to put this (Forward Hatch DUMP VALVE) in AUTO afterwards or not? \u2026[Move] So, I can turn around, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStand by.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[Leave it in] OPEN\u201d, I said.<\/p>\n

\u201c…leave it OPEN?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave it OPEN,\u201d I repeated.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, we don\u2019t [put it in AUTO], because then we don\u2019t want that hatch to get closed\u2026\u201d Cernan finally remembered that, even though we could dump pressure from the cabin from the outside, this OPEN position of the valve would keep any pressure build up in the cabin from making it difficult to open the hatch at the end of the EVA. \u201c\u2026I got to turn around here. Oh, boy! \u2026Boy, you sure get heavy (stiff) at 5 [psi], don\u2019t you?\u201d Suit pressure still needed to bleed down to its eventual working pressure of 3.7 psi. \u201cOkay. Where are we [in the checklist]?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re right here, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat that was\u2026 What\u2019s cabin [pressure], Jack?…Do you read, Jack?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJack, this is Houston,\u201d Parker called, realizing that I was not transmitting.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait a minute,\u201d Cernan replied for me.<\/p>\n

\u201cCDR, we\u2019re not reading the LMP either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, how do you read, Jack?\u201d I checked the two RCU MODE SELECT blades and found the Cernan\u2019s was in the B position rather than A. In bending down to work with the front hatch DUMP VALVE, Cernan had inadvertently put his MODE SELECT to B and this inhibited my transmissions.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. You\u2019re loud and clear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got a switch in the wrong place as usual, Bob,\u201d I explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just hit the MODE SELECT [switch on the RCU], that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Okay. We copy,\u201d Parker acknowledged.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, \u2018Partially open the forward hatch\u2019,\u201d I read from the Checklist. \u201cWhen we can,\u201d I added.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Can you zap over to the left as much as you can?\u201d Cernan asked, still trying to get in position for opening the hatch.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo the right, you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. To the north,\u201d Cernan said, not being able to see that I had moved to face forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo the north.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe north.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe north.\u201d This comedy routine gave us a good laugh as we waited for the cabin pressure to decrease. \u201cOkay, it\u2019s about 0.2 [psi], Gene.\u201d Full depressurization through the front hatch valve took about three minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Let me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou going to be able to get to it?\u201d I could not be any help as the hatch was hinged so that it would open into me.<\/p>\n

\u201cYep,\u201d Cernan affirmed. \u201cYou betcha. I\u2019ve come this far. I\u2019m not going to miss getting that hatch open\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, something just flew out (the hatch)!\u201d As Cernan broke the seal around the hatch and started to open it, the residual oxygen in the cabin streamed out, carrying a small piece of Styrofoam or bread with it. I was looking out the window with nothing else to do at this point.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s open now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGosh, look at those trajectories!\u201d I exclaimed with a laugh as condensed ice from moisture in the expanding cabin air and other small pieces of debris left the Challenger.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Put just enough air in here, we\u2019re\u2026 Okay; it\u2019s open, babe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is open,\u201d Cernan repeated.<\/p>\n

” \u2018Final Prep For Egress:\u2019 PLSS [sublimator] \u2013 PRIMARY H2O.\u2019 I\u2019ve got to figure out how to open that now,\u201d I stated.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026When you\u2019re at 5 psi, it\u2019s [hard to reach the PLSS controls],\u201d Cernan explained as he also struggled to get to the guarded switch under the right front corner of the RCU.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>We never did really train for this in the right way,\u201d I commented.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, we did,\u201d Cernan contradicted, but I had no memory of such training, however, particularly at 5 psi suit pressure.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. My water is OPEN,\u201d I reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd my water is OPEN,\u201d Cernan followed, breathing hard with the exertion. \u201cOkay. Well, let\u2019s see: \u2018Rest until cooling sufficient; 3.7 to 4.6 (psi).\u2019 I\u2019m to 4.9; coming down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I am, too. Coming down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cernan returned to the Checklist. \u201cCWEA (Caution and Warning Electronics Assembly) status. PREAMPS and ECS [lights should be on]. Can you see that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSee a PRE AMPS, and I see ECS. \u2026Barely,\u201d I confirmed, turning my head to the left while facing toward the circuit breaker panel. The ECS caution light came on as the cabin depressurized and the RCS Jets Pre-amplifier Caution Light showed we had powered down the attitude control system. Both these lights were on the Caution and Warning display above the eight ball and at the top of my instrument panel, Panel 2.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Water Sep Component Light \u2013 ON.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWater… Excuse me, Water Sep \u2013 [ON].\u201d The water separator used a spinning fan to remove condensed moisture from the suit circuit.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Well, the next thing it says is that \u2018Gene gets out\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see that,\u201d I kidded. We transitioned here to the Cuff Checklists attached to our left wrists.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what it says on my [Cuff] Checklist.\u201d Actually, at this point, his Cuff Checklist says nothing about his egress and mine says \u201cAssist CDR.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. \u2026Good heavens!\u201d I said in mock surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat means you got to get out of the way so I can open the hatch\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m going to have to turn around [toward you] a little, I think, so I can help you.\u201d With the suits stiffer than normal, I would help Cernan clear the projecting bulk of the DISKEY as he went out the hatch, belly down and feet first.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. \u2026Boy, beware of that corner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis high pressure\u2026,\u201d I said, sympathetically.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. I tell you at four and a half (psi), you\u2019re really pretty heavy (stiff).\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was that that came shooting up here? A piece of bread?\u201d I speculated with a laugh. \u201cWould you believe that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019d believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy is our hatch open?\u201d I asked in mock concern. \u201cSomebody opened our hatch! \u2026Are you getting cooling?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m beginning to, I think. I still got a Water Flag. [But I\u2019m] not hot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStand by. \u2026How does the water pressure look, Houston?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChallenger<\/em>, they\u2019re looking just a little bit low,\u201d Parker responded. \u201cWe\u2019re still expecting them to build up. It\u2019s going to take a little while.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m getting down on my knees out here. How am I looking, Jack?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re just fine. I\u2019m holding you away from the DEDA…[that is] the DISKEY.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to put this visor down now, I think. \u2026How does that look to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow are my legs? Am I getting out?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t know. I can\u2019t see your legs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, okay,\u201d Cernan said, laughing at his question.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019re getting out though, because there\u2019s not as much of you in here as there used to be. \u2026Oh, hey, Gene, when I get down there, I got to fix your tool harness [on the PLSS]. Hold it.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Can you reach it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s come off the bottom again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you reach it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I can\u2019t do it now, because it\u2019s come off from the bottom. I\u2019ll have to…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, [off] the bottom of the PLSS, huh?<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Well, my legs are out. Keep that hatch open.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you squat down any further, because you\u2019re hooked on\u2026 You\u2019re making it worse. \u2026Okay.\u201d The corners of Cernan\u2019s PLSS were temporarily hooked on the frame of the hatch.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Now, be careful because you might hook it (tool harness) on something down there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, the tool harness?\u201d Cernan asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. The back. It\u2019s loose on your back; on the back of the PLSS.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, man, I don\u2019t like that. Okay. I\u2019ll watch it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019ll fix it when I get out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m still reading 4.0 (psi). Houston, the Commander is on the porch of Challenger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We copy you, Commander, and your feed-water pressure is looking much better\u2026now, and you\u2019re probably getting cooling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Everything else look good to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s affirmative,\u201d Parker replied.<\/p>\n

Cernan seemed to have more trouble than I did in getting out of Challenger.<\/em> Three factors may have contributed to this: He was taller than I, I could open the hatch a little wider, and my suit pressure had decayed more than his by the time I started out. Also, with me in the cabin to observe and assist, there was naturally more conversation about various difficulties.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Jack. I\u2019m going to get the MESA.\u201d The MESA (Modular Equipment Stowage Assembly), stowed in the Descent Stage quadrant to the left of the ladder going down, held our various sampling tools, extra food, replacement PLSS batteries, sample bags and boxes, and the detectors for the Cosmic Ray Experiment. Whether anyone ever realized that MESA is the Spanish word for table, I am not sure. The MESA basically was a large box that Cernan deployed on its hinges by pulling a D-ring he could reach while on the porch. Depending on its deployed position, I later will adjust the MESA to a good working height.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. And I\u2019ll have an ETB ready for you.\u201d As described earlier, the ETB (Equipment Transfer Bag) contain items like cameras and scissors that would be transferred back and forth from the cabin to the surface.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, man; oh, man; oh, man,\u201d Cernan exclaimed as he reached for the MESA D-ring.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDeploy, MESA!\u201d I ordered.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Cernan agreed with a chuckle. \u201cHere it comes. \u2026There she goes, babe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, hey!\u201d As this was the quadrant of the Descent State below my window, I literally had a bird\u2019s eye view of the MESA\u2019s slow rotation out of its stowed position.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere she is. All the way down, it looks like. Okay. I jettisoned\u2026\u201d Cernan got ahead of himself on the Cuff Checklist. \u201cOh, you want an ETB?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s up to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re the Commander,\u201d I reminded him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got it! I got it. \u2026And, the [suit] pressure looks like it\u2019s started to stabilize at 3.8. I don\u2019t know whether I\u2019m getting cooler or not, but I feel pretty good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe copy that,\u201d broke in Parker.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about a Jett(ison) bag, too?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026\u201d The Jettison Bag contained empty food bags and other trash that would be left under the Descent Stage.<\/p>\n

Using the lanyard to lower the ETB to the ground, Cernan commented, \u201cOh, Jack, I could swing it (ETB) over the – it won\u2019t be any problem – over the strut. Okay; and the Jett Bag is swinging free.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean the ETB.\u201d The ETB had a lanyard to lower it to within reach from the surface.<\/p>\n

\u201cETB,\u201d corrected Cernan. \u201cOh, man. This (ETB) looks like a Santa Claus bag.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is,\u201d I reminded him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, boy. There it goes. The Rover looks in good shape.\u201d Cernan could see behind the thermal blanket that covered the Rover stowage location to the right of the ladder. \u201cETB is down there. \u2026I\u2019ve got all my visors down. Jack, I wouldn\u2019t lower your gold visor until after you get on the porch, because it\u2019s plenty dark out here.\u201d The west facing ladder and front quadrants of the Challenger,<\/em> of course, were in shadow.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026Tape recorder (DSE)\u2026is OFF, VOX (VOICE) SENSITIVITY \u2013 MAX AND MAX.\u201d I said, finishing off the final items for the cabin that were on the first page of the Cuff Checklist, including another verification that white dots were out on both circuit breaker panels. While near the Challenger<\/em>, we would be transmitting by VHF into its S-Band communications system.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m on my way [down the ladder],\u201d Cernan reported. \u201cOkay, Houston. The Commander is about three quarters of the way down. \u2026I\u2019m on the footpad. And, Houston, as I step off at the surface at Taurus-Littrow, we\u2019d like to dedicate the first step of Apollo 17 to all those who made it possible. \u2026Jack, I\u2019m out here. Oh, my golly! Unbelievable! Unbelievable; but is it bright in the Sun. \u2026Okay! We landed in a very shallow depression. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve got a slight pitch-up angle. (It\u2019s a) very shallow, dinner-plate-like, dish crater, just about the width (span) of the struts. How you doing, Jack?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine. Getting the circuit breakers verified.\u201d I also made sure the Utility Floodlights were off and that the Sequence Camera was still running.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe LM looks beautiful,\u201d Cernan continued. \u201cOh, do we have boulder tracks coming down [the North Massif]. Let me see exactly where we are. I think I may be just in front of Punk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe copy that, Gene,\u201d responded Parker, \u201cand are the boulder tracks\u2026to both the north and south?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the North Massif we\u2019ve got very obvious boulder tracks. A couple of large boulders come within 20 or 30 feet of the [break in slope]. \u2026Looks like where we can get to them; there\u2019s a couple I know we can get to. Well, the Sun angle is such that, what I saw on the South Massif earlier, I can\u2019t see very well. But, I know there were boulder tracks over there. Bear Mountain [to the west]. \u2026Boy, it\u2019s hard to look to the east. \u2026Bear Mountain and the Sculptured Hills [to the east] have a very, very similar texture on the surface. The Sculptured Hills\u2019 [surface] is like the wrinkled skin of an old, old, 100-year-old man. [That] is probably the best way I could put it. Very, very hummocky but smoothly (evenly) pockmarked. I do not see any boulders up on the Sculptured Hills from here. But it\u2019s awful hard to look to the east and to the southeast.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe copy that, Gene. Have you got an LMP with you yet?\u201d I had been quietly maneuvering inside the cabin to get in position to egress to the porch. I took it slow and easy while Cernan talked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, here come his feet. Jack, let me make sure. \u2026We didn\u2019t have an awful lot of dust on landing; but I can dig my foot in 8 or 10 inches [into the regolith], and I know we\u2019re (the regolith) at least that thick. There\u2019s a small little 1-meter crater right in front of us with a whole mess of glass right in the middle. That\u2019s right in front of the MESA, as a matter of fact.<\/span> Right where I want to park the Rover. Jack, you\u2019re looking good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeautiful, guys; beautiful,\u201d gushed Parker.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to take a quick look back. I think this is Poppie, and I can give you a real better idea where we are.\u201d Cernan wandered some 30m to the east to get his bearings and try to identify Poppie.<\/p>\n

\u201cHatch is closed, barely,\u201d I reported from the porch.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Jack, don\u2019t lock it.\u201d Cernan started the traditional routine about the hatch.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going to lock it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got to go back there. You lose the key, and we\u2019re in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I\u2019m on the porch!\u201d again, feigning surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho said this place was smooth? Oh, boy! There\u2019s a lot of local depressions here I didn\u2019t figure existed,\u201d continued Cernan\u2019s excited commentary.<\/p>\n

I took hold of the handrails on the porch and then the smooth sides of the ladder and slid down slowly, not bothering with the rungs, until my left foot touched the surface. The left foot first touched a partially buried boulder under the front landing pad. As I put weight on that foot it slipped down the slick side of the boulder, catching me by surprise and leaving my legs separated much more than normal. The little beads of glass partially coating the boulder had acted like small ball bearings. I was more careful, next time. Looking toward the North Massif, the 12th<\/sup> and most recent man to step on the Moon[33]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> spoke his immortal first words, standing in the valley of Taurus-Littrow:<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, who\u2019s been tracking up my lunar surface?\u201d<\/p>\n

(see first photo at top<\/strong><\/a>)<\/p>\n

(to be continued\u2026)<\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

ENDNOTES:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    In the quoted dialog and annotations directly related to the Apollo 17 Mission, black = normal mission activity and commentary with quotes from the NASA transcript of air to ground communications; red<\/span> = spacecraft anomaly discussions; blue<\/span> = Earth observations; brown<\/span> = Lunar Module Challenger<\/em> discussions; green<\/span> = Public Affairs Office transcripts or news updates from Mission Control; and purple<\/span> = lunar observations. Other than their use in the names of spacecraft, italics<\/em> = onboard recorder transcripts (Data Storage Equipment or Command Module DSE and Data Storage Electronics Assembly or Lunar Module DSEA), and turquoise<\/span> = probable dialog derived from the author\u2019s memory.<\/p>\n

    In addition, parentheses (-) in the text are used to clarify the meaning of a preceding word or phrase. The use of text inside brackets [-] provides completion of an unspoken transcript thought. Brackets [-] enclosing letters or words quoted from a checklist complete abbreviated words to clarify what the word in question means. They are also used for parenthetical emphasis of explanatory paragraphs set off from regular text.<\/p>\n

    The CMC (Command Module Computer) commands are referred to occasionally in text as Pxx (Program i.d. number), Nounxx (data specification), or Verbxx (action number) to be carried out by the CMC when entered by hand.\u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    See Jones, E. M., Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, Apollo 17, Landing at Taurus-Littrow<\/span><\/a>, time hack 113:01:58 \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Adapted in part from Schmitt, H. H., 1994, A Trip to the Moon, in V. Neal, editor, Where Next, Columbus?<\/em>, Oxford University Press, New York, p. 61-62. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Encyclopedia Astronautica, Lunar Module ascent engine injector, Details<\/span><\/a> for 1968 May 28, and Details<\/span><\/a> for 1968 Sept. 25. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    Adapted in part from Schmitt, H. H., 1994, A Trip to the Moon, in V. Neal, editor, Where Next, Columbus?<\/em>, Oxford University Press, New York, p. 62. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  6. \n

    See Jones, E. M., Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, Apollo 17, Landing at Taurus-Littrow<\/span><\/a>, time hack 113:04:17; Wolfe, et al, 1981, The Geologic Investigation of the Taurus-Littrow Valley: Apollo 17 Landing Site<\/em>, USGS Professional Paper 1080, USG Printing Office, Washington, p. 9, Figure 6. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  7. \n

    The reader can watch the intensity of these markings change by varying the sun angle at the LROC website<\/span><\/a>. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  8. \n

    Schmitt, H. H., and M. S. Robinson, 2010, Geology of the Apollo 17 Taurus-Littrow site in light of LRO imagery, Abstract, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, November 1. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  9. \n

    Batson, R. M., Personal communication. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  10. \n

    See Jones, E. M., Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, Apollo 17, Post-landing Activities<\/span><\/a>, time hack 113:23:22. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  11. \n

    See also, Hansen, J. R., 2005, First Man<\/em>, Simon & Schuster, New York, pp. 466-472. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  12. \n

    Cernan, E. A., and D. Davis, 1999, The Last Man on the Moon,<\/em> St. Martin\u2019s Press, New York, pp. 316-318. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  13. \n

    Mindell, D. A., 2008, Digital Apollo, MIT Press, Cambridge MA, pp. 181-215. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  14. \n

    Woods, W. David, 2008, How Apollo Flew to the Moon, <\/em>Springer-Praxis, New York, pp. 255-256; Mindell, D. A., 2008, Digital Apollo, MIT Press, Cambridge MA, pp. 170-174. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  15. \n

    See Scott, D. R., and A. Leonov, 2004, Two Sides of the Moon,<\/em> Simon and Schuster, New York, pp. 292-293. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  16. \n

    Lucey, P., et al, 2006, Understanding the lunar surface and space-Moon interactions, in B. Joliff, et al, editors, New Views of the Moon<\/em>, Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 60, Chapter 2, p. 61-63. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  17. \n

    Schmitt, H. H., A.W. Snoke, M.A. Helper, J.M. Hurtado, K.V. Hodges and J.W. Rice, Jr., 2011, Motives, methods, and essential preparation for planetary field geology on the Moon and Mars Geological Society of America Special Paper <\/em>483; 1-15 doi: 10.1130\/2011.2483(01); See also Chapter 2. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  18. \n

    See Chapter 11, Station 4 \u2013 Shorty Crater. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  19. \n

    See Chapter 12, Station 9, Van Serg Crater. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  20. \n

    Graf, J. C., 1993, Lunar Soils Grain Size Catalog,<\/em> NASA Reference Publication 1265, Apollo 17 soils, pp. 325-462, PDF download of whole catalog<\/span><\/a>. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  21. \n

    Wilhelms, D. E., 1984, The Geologic History of the Moon, <\/em>U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1348, p. 129 \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  22. \n

    See Chapter 11, Station 2 \u2013South Massif and Station 3-Light Mantle \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  23. \n

    See Chapter 1. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  24. \n

    Schmitt, H. H., 2015. Potential catalytic role of phylosilicates in pre-biotic organic synthesis, Geological Society of America Special Paper 518, pp. 1-16. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  25. \n

    NASA, 1973, Apollo 17 \u2013 Preliminary Science Report<\/em>, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA SP-330, Chapters 9-19. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  26. \n

    Wilhelms, D. E., 1987, The Geologic History of the Moon<\/em>, USGS Professional Paper 1348. p. 191. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  27. \n

    Steno, N., 1669, Dissertationis prodromus<\/em>. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  28. \n

    Wilhelms, D. E., 1987. The Geologic History of the Moon<\/em>, USGS Professional Paper 1348. Pp. 64-65. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  29. \n

    Luccuita, B. 1972, Geologic map of part of the Taurus-Littrow region of the Moon, in D. H. Scott, et al, Geologic Maps of the Taurus-Littrow region of the Moon, U. S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geological Investigations, Map I-800, Sheet 2, scale 1:50000. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  30. \n

    Saal, A. E., et al, 2008, Volatile content of lunar volcanic glasses and the presence of water in the Moon\u2019s interior, Nature, 454, p. 192-195; Colaprete, A., et al, 2010, Detection of water in the LCROSS ejecta plume, Science, 330, p. 463-468. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  31. \n

    Feldman, W. C., et al, 2001, Evidence for water ice hear the lunar poles, Journal of Geophysical Research, 106, p. 23, 231-23, 251. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  32. \n

    See Chapter 3. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  33. \n

    Neil Armstrong became the first man to step on the Moon on July 20, 1969, followed by Buzz Aldrin, Pete Conrad, Alan Bean, Al Shepherd, Ed Mitchell, Dave Scott, Jim Irwin, John Young, Charlie Duke, and, number 11, Gene Cernan. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Chapter 9 The 12th Man[1] The Lunar Module (LM) Challenger at the beginning of the first extravehicular activity (EVA) shortly after touchdown at 01:55 p.m. EST on December 11, 1972. In the background at right is the eastern slope of the South Massif. To the left of the left-most LM strut is the small hill, … <\/p>\n

    Continue reading “Chapter 9 – The 12th Man”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":3344,"menu_order":9,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1907","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P9bNBl-uL","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1907"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1907\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3358,"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1907\/revisions\/3358"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}