<P> Apollo 17 was the first night launch of a U.S. human spaceflight and the final manned launch of a Saturn V rocket . It was a "J - type mission" which included three days on the lunar surface, extended scientific capability, and the third Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV). While Evans remained in lunar orbit in the Command / Service Module (CSM), Cernan and Schmitt spent just over three days on the moon in the Taurus--Littrow valley and completed three moonwalks, taking lunar samples and deploying scientific instruments . Evans took scientific measurements and photographs from orbit using a Scientific Instruments Module mounted in the Service Module . </P> <P> The landing site was chosen with the primary objectives of Apollo 17 in mind: to sample lunar highland material older than the impact that formed Mare Imbrium, and investigate the possibility of relatively new volcanic activity in the same area . Cernan, Evans and Schmitt returned to Earth on December 19 after a 12 - day mission . </P> <P> Apollo 17 is the most recent manned Moon landing and was the last time humans travelled beyond low Earth orbit . It was also the first mission to be commanded by a person with no background as a test pilot, and the first to have no one on board who had been a test pilot; X-15 test pilot Joe Engle lost the lunar module pilot assignment to Schmitt, a scientist . The mission broke several records: the longest moon landing, longest total extravehicular activities (moonwalks), largest lunar sample, and longest time in lunar orbit . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Position </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Astronaut </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Commander </Th> <Td_colspan="2"> Eugene A. Cernan Third and last spaceflight </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Command Module Pilot </Th> <Td_colspan="2"> Ronald E. Evans Only spaceflight </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Lunar Module Pilot </Th> <Td_colspan="2"> Harrison H. Schmitt Only spaceflight </Td> </Tr> </Table>

What was the last time someone walked on the moon