Original NASA Employee Apollo Era First Day Cover
Employee Souvenir of Mission
Dec 7, 1972
Kennedy Space Center
Apollo 17
The Final Mission
The Original NASA Employee Apollo Era First Day Cover from December 7, 1972, is a remarkable artifact that holds a special place in the annals of space history. It represents a poignant moment in the Apollo program, capturing the essence of NASA's pioneering spirit during one of the most significant space missions in history, Apollo 17.
Apollo 17, often referred to as "The Final Mission," marked the culmination of NASA's extraordinary efforts to explore the lunar surface. It was the last of the Apollo missions to land astronauts on the Moon, making it an emblematic conclusion to a decade of lunar exploration. The mission carried a crew consisting of Commander Eugene Cernan, Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt, and Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans. It was unique in that it featured a geologist-astronaut, Harrison Schmitt, whose presence added an important scientific dimension to the mission.
The December 7, 1972, date on this First Day Cover is significant as it corresponds to the launch date of Apollo 17 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission's objectives included exploring the Taurus-Littrow region of the Moon, conducting geological experiments, and gathering valuable lunar samples. Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt spent over three days on the lunar surface, conducting three moonwalks, while Ronald Evans orbited above in the Command Module.
This First Day Cover, likely distributed to NASA employees as a souvenir of the historic mission, serves as a tangible link to the Apollo era. It embodies the dedication and hard work of the thousands of individuals who contributed to the success of the Apollo program, from engineers and scientists to support staff and astronauts. It's a memento of a time when humanity aimed for the stars and achieved the seemingly impossible, ultimately leaving an indelible mark on our understanding of the Moon and space exploration.
