Here's Page 1-9 from the Apollo 17 'Lunar Surface Checklist' which was used by Cernan and Schmitt inside LM Challenger as it sat on the moon's surface! Before, and after, their EVA's! Now it's in my home! Well, my safe deposit box anyway! God bless America! Whenever I look up and see the moon, I'm awestruck knowing that those men took this to the moon's surface in LM Challenger, brought it back to earth, and now, by the grace of God (and quite a few Benjamin Franklin's!!!), I'm it's caretaker. And, as a BIG bonus, it appears to have a light sprinkling of lunar dust!
APOLLO 17
'LUNAR SURFACE CHECKLIST'
PAGE 1-9
As can be seen, the notations 'C17037' and 'L24117' were written next to 'Report PRD readings to Hou'. Each astronaut possessed a PRD (Personal Radiation Dosimeter) to monitor the cumulative radiation dose received during the mission. There is also the notation 'Note LM Shadows Length (-100')'. I was able to verify these notations were written on the Page while Cernan and Schmitt were on the moon in LM Challenger by searching through the 'Apollo 17 Technical Air-To-Ground Voice Transcription', and the 'Apollo 17 Lunar Module Onboard Voice Transcription', the covers of which are seen below. I think it's interesting that these transcripts document the exact notations made by Schmitt while he and Cernan were on the moon!
Apollo 17 Technical Air-To-Ground Voice Transcription
Apollo 17 Lunar Module Onboard Voice Transcription
As can be seen in the below transcript page from the 'Apollo 17 Technical Air-To-Ground Voice Transcription', identified as Tape 75A/7, at 04 14 30 14 the CDR-LM (Cernan) tells Schmitt 'We're about what- about 100 meters from Trident?' The LMP-LM (Schmitt) tells Cernan ''Yes- yes, less than that, I think Trident's right here. Our shadow's about 100 feet, Geno, I think.' CDR-LM (Cernan) then tells Schmitt 'Yes, we're only about- yes, less than 100 meters then.'
As can be seen in the below transcript page from the 'Apollo 17 Technical Air-To-Ground Voice Transcription', identified as 'Tape 76A/1', at 04 15 58 37 the LMP-LM (Schmitt) tells Houston 'Okay, Houston, we're just starting our eat period. Sorry to be a little behind. PRD readings are 17037 and LMP is 24117', which would indicate that Schmitt made the PRD reading notations on this checklist page. Then at 04 16 01 11 CDR-LM (Cernan) tells Houston 'I don't know if it will mean anything to you, but the shadow of the LM, the rendezvous radar antenna is pointing about one-third of the way down from the peak of Family. And that, I know, is pretty gross. And, Gordo, I - I must be right here abeam of Trident 1. The only reason I hesitate is that I'm so close - but it's probably, well I guess it's close to 100 meters - 80 meters anyway to where the - where the rim of Trident 1 falls off.'
As can be seen in the below transcript page from the 'Apollo 17 Lunar Module Onboard Voice Transcription', identified as '2-18 Day 5', at 04 14 30 14 the CDR (Cernan) says 'We're about what-about 100 meters from Trident?' The LMP (Schmitt) then tells CDR (Cernan) 'Yes-Yes, about that.'. CDR (Cernan) then says 'I think Trident's right here.'. To which the LMP (Schmitt) tells the CDR (Cernan) 'Our shadows about 100 feet, Geno, I think.'. CDR (Cernan) then says 'Yes, we're only about-yes, less than 100 meters then. *** look that long, but it's supposed to be.'.
At Spacefest IV, I showed the below photo of Page 1-9 (not the actual Page!) to Cernan, and asked him about the handwritten notations. He verified that notations 'C17037' and 'L24117' were written on the Page by Schmitt while on the moon inside LM Challenger. Which he notated on the photo as 'Written on the Moon by Jack Schmitt'. Cernan said that the other notation, 'BU EV GLOVES (ISA) BEHIND ENG COVER SPARE LCGS (LHMS) TO ISA BIG PKT', was probably written on the Page by Schmitt on the way to the moon. He wasn't too clear about who wrote 'Note LM Shadow Length (-100')' or when it was written. However, based upon the transcripts, it is clear that this had to have been written by one of them while inside LM Challenger, shortly after landing on the surface.
Here's a picture of Cernan at Spacefest IV
at the time he signed/notated the above picture. Which can be
seen laying on the table in front of him. Along with
two copies of his book, which he signed/notated for my
wife's grandkids.
Below is a picture of my 'Apollo 17 Flight Plan Change A' dated November 29, 1972, belonging to Apollo 17 Flight Controller John H. Cooper, which complement's Page 1-9. Cooper actually used this 'Flight Plan' during the Apollo 17 mission while sitting in the Mission Operations Control Room, Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston Texas, in support of his responsibilities as an Apollo 17 Flight Controller. I was able to obtain it from one of his relatives. At a hefty price!
Although Cooper made some very interesting notations on a number of the pages, there was one page in particular I want to share here. Below is a picture of Page 3-124. Which has many of Cooper's handwritten notations.
One of which is: '100m from Triton (Shadow 100 ft.)'. Which is almost identical to the following notation made on Page 1-9: 'Note LM Shadow Length (-100')'.
In addition, it can be seen in the above transcript page from the 'Apollo 17 Technical Air-To-Ground Voice Transcription', identified as Tape 75A/7, at 04 14 30 14 that the CDR-LM (Cernan) tells Schmitt 'We're about what- about 100 meters from Trident?' The LMP-LM (Schmitt) tells Cernan ''Yes- yes, less than that, I think Trident's right here. Our shadow's about 100 feet, Geno, I think.'
On this same transcript page, Cernan and Schmitt also talk about being '100 meters from Trident' and 'boulder tracks' which Cooper has also notated on Page 3-124 as '100m from Triton (Shadow 100 ft.)' and, 'can see boulder tracks'!
Note that Cooper refers to 'Trident' as 'Triton'.
So, think about it.
Just after Cernan and Schmitt landed on the moon, they began looking out the Lunar Module's windows. And making notations on Page 1-9. One of which describes the shadow length of the Lunar Module. While back in the Mission Operations Control Room at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Cooper was sitting at his console. Listening intently. And contemporaneously notating the same information on Page 3-124!
Two amazing Apollo 17 artifacts!
Two very expensive and amazing Apollo 17 artifacts!
Finally together!
In the below picture, Cernan is holding the complete 'Lunar Surface Checklist', from which Page 1-9 originated. You can see black markings across the top of the Checklist's pages. Which I have circled, with an arrow pointing to the black markings.
In the below picture, Cernan, Evans, and Schmitt are preparing for the Apollo 17 mission. It appears that the 'Lunar Surface Checklist' is open on the table in front of them. Which I have circled, with arrows pointing to the black markings!
It doesn't get any better than this!
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.