The Artemis II rocket recently launched, carrying four astronauts on a journey around the Moon, marking the first crewed mission to the lunar vicinity in over five decades.
This 10-day, 230,000-mile mission serves as a critical test for the Orion spacecraft, which NASA plans to use for future human lunar surface landings by 2028, with subsequent objectives including missions to Mars.
The mission draws a parallel to the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972, which was the last time humans traveled to the Moon.
Artemis II Mission Details
The Artemis II mission involves a four-person crew embarking on a journey that will orbit the Moon and return to Earth. The mission's primary objective is to evaluate the performance of the Orion spacecraft in deep space, preparing it for future lunar expeditions. NASA's long-term strategy involves utilizing the Orion spacecraft to transport astronauts to the lunar surface by 2028, followed by potential missions to Mars.
Apollo 17: The Last Human Lunar Mission
Before Artemis II, the last human mission to the Moon was Apollo 17, which took place in December 1972. The three-person crew included Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans, who remained in lunar orbit, and astronauts Eugene Cernan and geologist Harrison "Jack" Schmitt, who landed in the Moon's Taurus-Littrow valley.
Cernan and Schmitt spent over three days on the lunar surface, collecting approximately 250 pounds of moon rock and soil samples. The mission established several records, including the longest stay on the Moon at 75 hours, the most lunar samples collected, and a total mission duration of 12 days and 14 hours.
NASA had made the decision two years prior to cancel remaining Apollo missions, primarily due to budget reductions. Consequently, the Apollo 17 crew was aware that their mission would likely be the last human visit to the Moon for the foreseeable future. Eugene Cernan became the last individual to walk on the Moon on December 14, 1972. Upon his departure from the lunar surface, Cernan stated:
"As we leave the moon and Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came — and God willing as we shall return: with peace, and in hope, for all mankind."
Cernan passed away in 2023.
Global Context in 1972
The 53 years since the Apollo 17 mission have seen significant changes across various global domains. The year 1972 itself was marked by notable geopolitical events, cultural shifts, and technological advancements.
Geopolitical and Societal Developments
- The Watergate scandal began to unfold.
- "Bloody Sunday" occurred in Northern Ireland.
- The "Munich massacre" took place at the 1972 Olympics.
- North Vietnam launched the "Easter Offensive" during the Vietnam War, accompanied by anti-war protests.
- President Nixon announced an end to new draftee deployments to Vietnam and made a visit to China, marking the first time a U.S. President visited the country.
Economic and Technological Innovations
- The Volkswagen Beetle surpassed the Ford Model T as the most-produced car globally.
- A gallon of regular gasoline cost 36 cents, equivalent to approximately $2.53 in current value.
- Technological innovations included the debut of the digital watch, the release of Atari's "Pong" (the first commercially successful arcade video game), the floppy disk, the HP-35 (the first handheld scientific calculator), and the Hacky Sack.
- McDonald's introduced the Egg McMuffin in test markets.
Cultural Landscape
- David Bowie introduced his alter ego, Ziggy Stardust.
- The musical group ABBA was formed.
- The musical "Grease" opened on Broadway.
- Neil Young's album "Harvest" was the year's top-selling album.
- The film "The Godfather," released in March, was the highest-grossing film of the year.
- Fashion trends included bold colors and patterns, bell-bottoms, shawls, platform shoes, and synthetic fabrics. Prominent style figures of the year included Bianca Jagger, Jane Birkin, and Diana Ross.
Media Consumption and New Terminology
- Approximately 95 percent of U.S. households owned televisions, primarily relying on ABC, CBS, and NBC as the dominant commercial broadcast networks.
- Print newspaper circulation reached a record 62.5 million before a subsequent decline.
- Several words were recorded in print for the first time in 1972, including "animatronic," "beer pong," "bird flu," "garage band," "glam rock," "habanero," "lowrider," "page-turner," "sound bite," "spaghetti strap," "veggie burger," "women's studies," and "yard sale."