Apollo 40

Sponsored by:

White Sands Test Facility  White
  Sands
  Test
  Facility


AIAA NMSU

Sun Country PGA

Events:

Apollo 8

Apollo 9

Apollo 10

Apollo 11

Apollo 12

Apollo 13

Apollo 14

Apollo 15

Apollo 16

Apollo 17

Project Apollo
Destination Moon

The 40th Anniversary of the Apollo program



This series of commemorative rocket launch flights are staged by FLARE, the Fellowship of Las Cruces Area Rocketry Enthusiasts. We will launch scale models of both Historic White Sands rocketships, and Apollo era spacecraft.

Find out about the completed Apollo 8, Apollo 9, Apollo 10, Apollo 11, Apollo 12, Apollo 13, Apollo 14, Apollo 15, and Apollo 16 events.

Apollo 17
Commemoration

New Mexico Museum of Space History,
Alamogordo, NM
October 11–13, 2012

On October 11-13, 2012 The Fellowship of Las Cruces Area Rocketry Enthusiasts and the New Mexico Museum of Space History will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 17 mission.  The event is being held at the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, NM and is once again an education and outreach opportunity for Southern New Mexico middle school students.  Most activities are open the general public.

Astronaut Geologist Harrison Schmitt

Harrison SchmittApollo 17 was the last of the lunar missions and the first to lift-off at night. For this event we are very pleased to have New Mexico’s most famous geologist, Dr. Harrison “Jack” Schmitt, as a Guest of Honor. Harrison Schmitt was the Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 17, the final of only 12th astronauts to step foot on the moon, and the only true Geologist to perform field work on the lunar surface.

Harrison Schmitt was part of an Apollo 17 crew that also included Gene Cernan (Commander) and Ron Evens (Command Module Pilot). Their mission began on the evening of December 7th, 1972. The intense flames from the five Saturn V First Stage F-1 engines literally turned darkness to daylight as the crew catapulted toward their encounter with the moon.

While in lunar orbit, America (Command Module) and Challenger (Lunar Module) separated. Cernan and Schmitt in Challenger then began the descent to Tauras-Littrow. It is there that they spent just over three days extensively exploring the surface of the moon in their Apollo XVII patchLunar Rover. Harrison Schmitt had a field day collecting the most rocks ever brought back by an Apollo crew (256 lbs – Source Apollo 17 Wiki). It is no wonder that Harrison Schmitt collected what is claimed to be the most intriguing moon specimen, tagged as Troctolite 76535, to be brought back to Earth.

The footprints of Schmitt and Cernan are the last to be left of the moon. Hopefully someday in the future that distinction will no longer be true.
It is going to be such an honor to hear the stories of the Apollo 17 adventure from an adventurer, geologist, and New Mexico native who lived the experience! We hope you can join us!!

Tentative Agenda:
11 October, Thursday Evening - Gala Dinner Event with Harrison Schmitt

12 October, Friday Morning to Early Afternoon - Apollo 17 40th Anniversary Commemoration Event at the New Mexico Museum of Space History.

  1. Historic Rockets of White Sands and Manned Space Vehicles Launch Demonstration
  2. Apollo 17 Launch Reenactment
  3. Student Hands-on Activities
  4. Special IMAX Showing
  5. Presentation by Harrison Schmitt

Friday evening – Chuck wagon BBQ and Night Launch Activity. Highlight: Apollo 17 Night Launch Reenactment.

13 October, Saturday Morning – Harrison Schmitt Appearance at the New Mexico Museum of Space History

Astronaut Harrison Schmitt, American Flag, and Earth - Apollo 17 EVA-1