posted 11-06-2017 07:27 AM               

I have undertaken a long-running project to write a personal account of the Apollo 17 Mission on which I flew to the Moon as the Lunar Module Pilot and scientist. This diary also attempts to integrate much of the mission's scientific results to date with the operations that were necessary to explore the valley of Taurus-Littrow.

"30 Days and Counting" constitutes the first installment of "Apollo 17: Diary of the Twelfth Man," commemorating the 45th Anniversary of the December 7, 1972 launch of the Apollo 17 Mission. "30 days and Counting" is Chapter 4 of the diary with other chapters to follow as soon as time permits. It was chosen as the initial installment because the interval between its online publication date and the launch date coincides with the chapter title.

A wide variety of sources have contributed to the preparation of this diary, including transcripts; checklists; stowage records; training schedules; USGS and NASA records of field simulations; books published by other Apollo participants and historians; a vast array of scientific publications; and, of course, the author's memory and personal field geological perspectives. A complication to reading diaries is their instantaneous jump from subject to subject. In addition to the liberal use of endnotes, distinguishing between subjects and sources is aided by the consistent use of different font styles and colors in the text. The first endnote of each chapter repeats the explanation of these color codes.

posted 11-06-2017 08:48 PM               

The Aggies found themselves plagued by injuries, with their reserves seemingly dwindling with every play. As Texas A&M Coach Dana X. Bible looked across his rapidly emptying bench, he suddenly remembered Gill’s presence in the stands. Bible waved Gill down to the sideline and told him to suit up. Gill ran under the bleachers and put on the uniform of injured running back Heine Weir, who had been knocked out of the game in the first quarter.

Gill returned to the sideline, where he stood ready to play for the entirety of the game. When the last play was run, the Aggies found that they had pulled off one of the greatest upsets in college football history, winning the game 22-14.

And Gill remained standing, the only player left on the team’s bench.

Gill’s willingness to serve his team in 1922 has passed down from generation to generation of Aggies for more than nine decades, as Texas A&M’s student section stands together during entire football and basketball games, a symbol of the 12th Man on the team.

The power of the 12th Man is echoed in the unity, the loyalty, and the willingness of Aggies to serve when called to so. And it is the reason that Texas A&M has earned a name that embraces Gill’s simple gesture of service: Home of the 12th Man.

Kevmac, Texas A&M Class of 1982

posted 11-09-2017 03:39 PM               

The first priority is to finish "Apollo 17: Diary of the 12th Man." Then we'll see about a hard copy version. In fact, one publisher has already expressed great interest.

posted 12-09-2017 02:23 PM            

However, I was disappointed with Dr Schmitt's sniping at his Commander Gene Cernan. In particular at the separation, docking and extraction of the LM from the S-1VB I feel his thoughts at the time would be better kept to himself as there was no indication that Cernan was going to take over the manoeuvre from Ron Evans.

He also mentioned that Dick Gordon would have done things differently, and I understand this as he was Schmitt's commander in a back up crew, but made it appear that he would have been more efficient once they made it into space.

posted 12-11-2017 06:01 AM               

Apollo 17 astronaut begins releasing diary 45 years after moon mission

Harrison Schmitt went for a walk on Dec. 11, 1972. Forty five years later, he is almost ready to share his diary of that day.

The last of the twelve NASA astronauts to step foot onto the surface of the moon — and the only geologist to do so — Schmitt was the lunar module pilot on NASA's Apollo 17 mission, the sixth, last, and as Schmitt puts it, "most recent human visit to the moon." Now, on the 45th anniversary of his lunar journey, Schmitt is beginning to take the public on a stroll through history, his memories and the findings that came from exploring Taurus Littrow Valley on the moon.

posted 12-14-2017 01:53 PM            

In the discussion over LLTV accidents, I didn't think Armstrong's mishap was the third crash. Also in the LMS description I thought he was reading out LPD grid numbers not COAS numbers.

Then there's the ELS ("Escape Launch System") SEP CBs. Interestingly, on the transcripts I've read only Cernan's reply appears, not Overmeyer's original question. Does Dr Schmitt have access to a different recording? I'm also only aware of the ELS being the Earth Landing System with A and B breakers.

And the EMS, I thought that was the Entry Monitoring System not the "Emergency Management System".

quote:

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Originally posted by Kite:
However, I was disappointed with Dr Schmitt's sniping at his Commander Gene Cernan. In particular at the separation, docking and extraction of the LM from the S-1VB I feel his thoughts at the time would be better kept to himself . . .

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I'm not, and I don't see it as sniping. I'm glad he's telling it as he felt it back then (and he's hard on himself at times also).

Given their very different backgrounds and the way the 17 crew was put together, elements of clashing personalities is no surprise. Also, some of Cernan's well publicised remarks over the years have given the same impression, so it's not one sided.

Some of it is also probably the thoughts of a super conscientious rookie keeping a very close eye on a commander on his first mission. I've been there too (on airplane crews), but yeah, sometimes you keep a real close eye on the other guys. Add in some hyper competitiveness and a touch of arrogant pride in your own work and that's how it is. Loyalty to your previous commander who was (on paper at least) better qualified etc (and hadn't recently crashed a helicopter). Make no mistake, they're probably thinking at least the same about you! It was a high risk situation and no-one wanted to get killed (or worse). They weren't just going fishing, and I don't think Schmitt was their buddy.

Yeah, I agree the 17 crew did an outstanding job. But it was a crew of humans not robots. I see no harm in telling it like it was. I don't respect their achievements any less.

posted 12-16-2017 12:04 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by David C:
Does Dr Schmitt have access to a different recording?

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posted 03-26-2018 08:07 AM               

"The 12th Man" constitutes the third installment of "Apollo 17: Diary of the Twelfth Man," commemorating the 45th Anniversary of the December 7, 1972 launch of the Apollo 17 Mission. It is Chapter 9 of the Diary with other chapters to follow as soon as time permits, some out of sequence like this one. This chapter chronicles the moments after touchdown of the LM Challenger in the Valley of Taurus-Littrow; safing the spacecraft systems and preparing it for an extended stay; the first views of the surface from the windows; donning the spacesuits; and stepping out onto the lunar surface for the first time.

As before, the liberal use of endnotes, distinguishing between subjects and sources is aided by the consistent use of different font styles and colors in the text. The first endnote of each chapter repeats the explanation of these color codes.

posted 05-30-2018 09:25 AM               

"A Valley on the Moon" constitutes the fourth installment of "Apollo 17: Diary of the Twelfth Man," commemorating the 45th Anniversary of the December 7, 1972 launch of the Apollo 17 Mission. It is Chapter 10 of the Diary with other chapters to follow as soon as time permits, some of them out of sequence.

This chapter chronicles EVA-1: the unloading of equipment outside of the LM Challenger; assembling the lunar rover (LRV), testing and loading it with the geological tools that will be needed; organizing the ALSEP packages for easy transport, and carrying them to the deployment site; emplacing the various experiments around the central ALSEP transmitting station; performing core drilling; the drive to the first geological exploration site at Station 1, and conducting investigations and samplings along the way; the lay-out of the cables for the cross-beam antenna of the SEP transmitter; and finally the return to the LM and close-out of EVA-1.