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Author
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Topic: Apollo 17: Last words spoken on the moon
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DavidH
Member Posts: 1240
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 12-09-2003 12:36 PM
   
Depending on where you look, the last words spoken on the moon by Gene Cernan were either: As we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came, and God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind. God bless the crew of Apollo 17.Or: America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow. Why the discrepancy? |
chet
Member Posts: 1506
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 12-09-2003 12:51 PM
This also raises the question, what qualifies as the last statement made on the moon? Would it be Cernan's last words before climbing back up the LEM's ladder, or whatever he said before he and Schmitt lifted off the lunar surface? |
nasamad
Member Posts: 2168
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 12-09-2003 01:30 PM
There's a print with signed by Aldrin and Duke, saying first words from and to the moon, "Contact light, etc., etc."If they qualify as the first then, any statement just before Apollo 17's lunar liftoff must qualify as the last. |
chet
Member Posts: 1506
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 12-09-2003 01:54 PM
I guess it depends what you go by.Armstrong's "One small step"... are considered to be the first words spoken ON the moon, not the dialogue between Aldrin and Duke FROM the moon (their marketing claims notwithstanding). And let's not forget, too, that Armstrong was pretty chatty before he left the LEM footpad to step foot on the actual soil). I'd go with Cernan's last words before he left the lunar soil as the definitive last words spoken ON the moon. |
John K. Rochester
Member Posts: 1292
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 12-09-2003 05:44 PM
"America's challenge of today has forged mans destiny of tomorrow" comes right before the other segment "and as we leave the moon... peace and hope for all mankind. God speed the crew of of Apollo 17." According to most, just before lunar liftoff, Gene turns to Jack and says "Let's get this mother out of here." |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1578
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 12-09-2003 06:47 PM
When Cernan did his book tour several years ago and spoke here, he said the last words spoken on the moon were right before lunar liftoff when he said "Jack, let's get this mother out of here". Pretty darned profound if you ask me  |
dss65
Member Posts: 1234
From: Sandpoint, ID, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 12-09-2003 11:36 PM
Cernan showed his peculiar mastery of words more than once in his illustrious career as an astronaut. This has to be one of the best, though. Vintage Cernan, and vintage American 1972 — for better or for worse. I love it! |
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