On Dec. 11, 1972, Apollo 17 became the last mission to launch humans on the moon. [‘On This Day in Space’ Video Series on Space.com](https://www.space.com/39251-on-this-day-in-space.html)

With two astronauts on board, the lunar module Challenger touched down in an area called the Taurus-Littrow valley, where they spent three days doing moonwalks and collecting samples. Commander Gene Cernan was the last person to set foot on the lunar surface as he followed the lunar module pilot, Harrison Schmitt, back into the spacecraft on the last day. Ronald Evans, the command module pilot, never got the chance to walk on the moon like his crewmates did, because he had to hang out by himself in lunar orbit.