Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

The new installment of Diary of the 12^th Man is now available, a captivating look at the Apollo 17 mission of 1972, written by astronaut Harrison H. (Jack) Schmitt.

In Section 3 of Chapter 12 – “Pages of History” – the reader will find a treasure trove of experiences by Apollo 17 moonwalkers, Eugene Cernan and Jack Schmitt.

A last grand panorama view of the west entrance to Taurus-Littrow Valley showing 3 days of activities both near and far from Challenger lunar lander.
Credit: NASA

For example, before re-entering the Challenger lunar lander, Schmitt tossed a geology hammer using a partial Olympic-style discus-throwing technique. The large extent of the impact plume is shown in a contrast-stretched photo not usually seen in the literature, spotlighting how much regolith can be moved by impacts of even the smallest low velocity objects.

Apollo 17 rover in its final location, put in position so television viewers back on Earth could view the departure of Cernan and Schmitt from Taurus-Littrow.
Credit: NASA

The reader has the ability to download a number of photos in a window separate from the text at higher resolution. Some images can also be enlarged for further examination by clicking areas of the image. Additionally, there are also convergent stereo anaglyphs of various lunar samples showing exceptional depth and structure of the objects.

“All-in-all, a remarkable conclusion to one of the most prolific lunar surface explorations of the 20th century,” explains editor-in-chief, Ronald Wells.

Schmitt’s down-sun “before” photo of the block group (right of the gnomon; left piece) from which samples 79115, 79135 will be taken. The west wall of Van Serg Crater spans the top of the photo. “The dust on Cernan’s suit shows how severe the problem will be for astronauts returning to a lunar module, or more permanent habitat after a day’s work in the field,” Schmitt explains.
Credit: NASA

“Although Chapter 12 concludes the 3 EVAs, the Diary is by no means at an end,” Wells explains. “The next chapter recounts Dr. Schmitt’s scientific evaluation of the mission data with the aid of a half century’s progress in analytical techniques, combined with new conclusions that arise from the synthesis of analytical data with his evolving interpretations of the geology of Taurus-Littrow and the Moon.”

To access Apollo 17: Diary of the 12th Man, go to:

https://www.americasuncommonsense.com