109:54:28 Evans (onboard): Simplex. Okay, Challenger; America. I need a [garble]. I'm going to [garble] to you.
Schmitt (onboard): How do you read, Ron?
Evans (onboard): Okay; I got you that time, Jack.
Evans (onboard): You read me okay?
Schmitt (onboard): Yes, you're loud and clear, but turn off your Vox.
Evans (onboard): Okay. I'm [garble] too much, huh?
Schmitt (onboard): That's affirm.
Evans (onboard): I can't read you right now. I just [garble] too much.
109:55:09 Schmitt (onboard): Turn off your Vox.
Evans (onboard): Okay; just a minute. How's that; any better?
Schmitt (onboard): Yes, I think that's pretty good.
Evans (onboard): Okay. Hatch [garble].
Evans (onboard): Okay, Challenger; America. You verify your hatch valves in Auto over there?
109:57:47 Schmitt (onboard): It's verified, Ron.
Evans (onboard): Okay. I'm going to be at the tunnel.
Cernan (onboard): Hey, Ron, what are you using for undocking time now?
Evans (onboard): I've got to look in my book here. It's about 1 - Wait a minute, 1 - 110:27.
Cernan (onboard): Copy. 110:27.
Cernan (onboard): Hello, Ron. I don't - he could use B3 if you need it.
Evans (onboard): Okay. I'll turn it back on here then. Takes a lot longer to depress the tunnel - depress the tunnel - than it does the simulator.
Cernan (onboard): Yes.
Evans (onboard): Okay. You through with the - your rendezvous transponder test?
110:01:06 Cernan (onboard): Yes. Sure am, Ron.
Evans (onboard): Okay. I'm going to Heaters then.
Evans (onboard): Well, then Delta-P is still only 2.5.
110:13:04 Cernan (onboard): Ron, is the tunnel vented yet?
Evans (onboard): Okay. It's down to greater than 3.5.
Cernan (onboard): Well, is that vented? Yes, we're going to press on. That's a big enough Delta-P.
Evans (onboard): Yes, that - that's a big enough Delta-P. I'm going to press on now.
Cernan (onboard): Okay. So are we.
110:13:25 Evans (onboard): Oh, what the heck was that? The O2 Flow just went up for some reason. [Garble] Suit Circuit return or open [garble]. That did it.
Evans (onboard): Good. We can maneuver back to undocklng attitude.
Cernan (onboard): Okay, Ron.
110:17:59 Evans (onboard): You got about l0 minutes to go.
Cernan (onboard): You said about 10 minutes, didn't you, Ron?
Evans (onboard): Yes, that's right.
110:18:15 Cernan (onboard): Okay.
110:18:XX : BEGIN LUNAR REV 12
110:21:54 Evans (onboard): Okay. It's a flight trim for P41.
Cernan (onboard): Okay, Ron. We're at 5 minutes now and counting. How'd that sound?
Evans (onboard): Yes, I got 6.
Cernan (onboard): On your time. Better check your undocking time. Are you using 110:20...
Cernan (onboard): Okay, Ron. It puts us inside 2 minutes and we're ready.
Evans (onboard): Okay. We're all set over here.
Schmitt (onboard): Okay, Ron. Remember, as soon as it's convenient, you'll start your maneuver to Sep attitude.
Evans (onboard): Okay. Will do. Delta-V, Normal, and start the old DAC. Darn thing doesn't work.
Cernan (onboard): Better work. Get some pictures of us.
Evans (onboard): Son-of-a-gun! Sorry about that. Okay. At 59:30, I'm going to hang you on the probe. No picture. Okay. You should be hanging on the probe. You are. Okay. At 00 - at 00, we'll back off.
Cernan (onboard): Sure wish you'd got some pics.
Evans (onboard): Yes, I don't know why in heck it doesn't work, but it sure doesn't.
Evans (onboard): They look great! One of them doesn't have a probe on it, but I guess it's supposed to be that way, huh? The one in the front. Beautiful! Sun's shining right in my window. That's the last picture I'm going to get of you.
Cernan (onboard): The ship looks clean.
Evans (onboard): Very good. Okay. I lost you right in the Sun for me, so you should be getting some good pictures of me.
Cernan (onboard): We're working at it, partner.
Evans (onboard): Okay.
Cernan (onboard): America, you look beautiful.
Evans (onboard): Man, oh, man, I - ought to see those - All I had to do was plug in the camera and that made it work.
Evans (onboard): Hey, there you are out the hatch window,
Schmitt (onboard): Okay, Ron. You're off candid camera.
Evans (onboard): Okay. Good - good show. You guys make your darn landing now, okay?
Cernan (onboard): Okay. Until we see you in a couple days.
Evans (onboard): Okay.
Schmitt (onboard): No TEI updates.
Cernan (onboard): [Laughter] Don't worry, never happen. Hey, Jack. Remember, part in 175, is that it?
Cernan (onboard): 109, Ron. That's what you are, babe.
110:39:18 - This is Apollo Control; 110 hours, 39 minutes Ground Elapsed Time in the mission of Apollo 17. Less than 2 minutes remaining now until America and Challenger, separated and flying a few feet apart at this time, will come around the front side of the Moon on the twelfth lunar orbit.
Slightly over a minute now until we should start attempting to lock up on the downlink signal from America and Challenger. The two-way communications from spacecraft communicator for the Command Service Module, Ken Mattingly, and Ron Evans aboard America will be on a separate loop as it was the last revolution. These conversations can be heard in room 161 in the Houston News Center. Early in this revolution we'll have the pressurization of the Descent Propulsion System and checkout of that system. Some 6 - 5 seconds away from acquisition. We'll stand by until Network advises the Flight Director that they do have firm lock-on. We have AOS in Lunar Module, let's see what we hear.
110:41:58 Fullerton: Hello, Challenger; Houston. You're very, very weak. Over.
110:42:04 Cernan: Okay, Houston. Challenger [garble] checkout is complete [garble] and we're looking at America, the beautiful.
110:42:17 Fullerton: Okay, Geno, I understand you're undocked. But we're not reading, but about 10 percent of what you're saying. Standby [garble]. [Long pause.]
110:42:55 Evans: Okay, Houston. This is America. We're floating free out here. The Challenger looks real pretty. The residuals on the P41 were plus 1.9, minus 0.2, and 0. Undock and sep was on time.
110:43:17 Mattingly: Sounds good.
110:43:19 Schmitt: Houston, this is Challenger. Won't hold on the steerable antenna yet. It looks like I'm getting oscillations in my uplink signal strength, and then it gradually drops off to zero.
110:43:35 Fullerton: Okay, Jack. We're reading you better now. Understand.
110:43:44 Cernan: Okay, Gordo. If you're reading, you got the words. We are undocked. Landing radar self test was Go. We're ready to press on to the DPS throttle check, and we've been looking at America, the beautiful. It's rare form.
110:44:00 Fullerton: Okay, Geno. We've got that. It sounds good.
110:44:05 Cernan: Okay, and the residuals on P47 at undocking were 0, minus 0.1, and 0.
110:44:14 Fullerton: Okay. We copy that. We'd like you to try the steerable again. [Long pause.]
110:44:35 Schmitt: Okay, Houston; we've got it.
110:44:38 Fullerton: Okay. You sound real good; loud and clear.
110:44:42 Schmitt: Okay, let me give you some Noun 20 angles, if you want them.
Noun 20 from the computer yields the gimbal angles from the IMU. They therefore represent the spacecraft's attitude with respect to whatever REFSMMAT the IMU platform is aligned to.
110:44:45 Fullerton: Go ahead. Ready to copy.
110:44:49 Schmitt: The LM: plus 301.09, plus 284.53, plus 359.48; the CSM: plus three zeros .35, plus 104.67, plus 000.52; the time: 110:24:00. Over.
110:45:20 Fullerton: Okay, Jack. We got that.
110:45:25 Cernan: Okay, Gordo; we're ready. DPS throttle check. I'm ready to hit Engine Stop.
110:45:30 Fullerton: Stand by. Okay; we're ready. [Pause.]
110:45:39 Cernan: Okay. And the light is on. [Pause.] The Reg light is On.
110:45:51 Fullerton: Roger. [Pause. ]We're showing the Engine Arm circuit breaker may be out. Would you check that? [Long pause.]
110:46:17 Schmitt: Okay. I'm sorry, Gordy. A little - We missed that here. Okay, we'll try it again. [Pause.]
110:46:30 Mattingly: America, Houston. When you have an opportunity, how about cycling the High Gain to Wide and back to Reacq? [Pause.]
110:47:16 Mattingly: Okay, America. How about going back to Narrow on the antenna. And could you verify what you loaded on Noun 34? It went by so fast on the downlink, we didn't get it a chance to look at it.
110:47:21 Cernan: Gordy, if the throttle test looked okay, I'll go Engine Arm Off.
110:47:26 Fullerton: Okay. It looked real good. Go ahead. [Long pause.]
ALSJ - Cernan and Schmitt pressurized the propellant tanks and, a few minutes later, made their last pass over Taurus-Littrow prior to the descent. Evans had not yet made his circularization burn and was ahead and slightly below them. It was a spectacular, oblique view of the valley. They were less than fifteen miles away, and the LM crew took a couple of color pictures. Cernan was particularly interested in the small group of craters that surrounded his target point, and he called out the names as he found them.
110:47:43 Evans: There, you got it? [Pause.]
110:47:52 Mattingly: Okay. That looks good.
110:47:53 Evans: Does that look okay?
110:47:54 Mattingly: Yes, sir. Sure does.
110:47:58 Evans: Okay. No update then, huh?
110:48:00 Mattingly: That's correct.
110:48:04 Evans: Okay.
Comm break.
AS17-147-22453 - CSM viewed from LM, over Becvar X - JSC scan
110:49:22 Cernan: Okay, Gordy, the Master Arm is coming on.
AS17-147-22454 - CSM viewed from LM, west of Becvar - JSC scan
110:49:25 Fullerton: Roger.
110:49:28 Cernan: I got two good lights.
110:49:30 Fullerton: Two lights. [Pause.]
AS17-147-22455 - CSM viewed from LM, west of Becvar - JSC scan
110:49:36 Cernan: Okay; on my mark. Descent Prop Isol Valve. 3, 2, 1...
110:49:40 Cernan: Mark it. We heard it.
110:49:44 Fullerton: Roger. [Pause.]
110:49:51 Fullerton: Okay; looks good.
110:49:52 Schmitt: Gordy, there was a slight upward - Gordy, there was an upward fluctuation in pressure in the manifold when we fired that. It's back to where it was, prefiring.
AS17-147-22456 - CSM viewed from LM, west of Becvar - JSC scan
110:50:05 Fullerton: Okay. That's what it should have done, Jack. [Long pause.]
110:58:06 Cernan: Gordo, this is spectacular. It is absolutely spectacular looking at that Command Module America down there coming across the surface. We're just tracking him at about a 30-degree dive angle.
110:58:20 Fullerton: Sounds great. [Pause.]
110:58:30 Cernan: Okay, babe; have a good time, and go get that landmark. Don't forget - No TEIs. See you in about 3 days.
TEI or Trans-Earth Injection would mean that Ron is heading for home. Gene and Jack would rather he didn't do so until they return from the surface in three days. [Long pause.]
AS17-147-22463 - CSM viewed from LM, Peirce C - JSC scan
110:59:27 Fullerton: Geno, Houston, with a couple of items. [Pause.]
110:59:34 Schmitt: Go ahead, Gordo.
110:59:36 Fullerton: Okay. Your perilune seems to be...
110:59:38 Cernan: Hey, we got the landing site, Gordo.
110:59:42 Fullerton: Okay. I'll hold...
110:59:42 Cernan: Gordo, we got the landing site. We're coming right over the front of it. Stand by a minute. You can see the Slide. I think you can see the Great Cross.
110:59:54 Fullerton: Roger.
110:59:57 Cernan: We'll get a picture of America coming right across it.
111:00:00 Fullerton: All righty.
AS17-147-22464 - Gene took this photo on the orbit before final descent. On the final approach, Gene flew Challenger down over the Sculptured Hills (low, knobby hills in sunlight just right of frame center) and out over the valley floor before landing a little north of the Trident group of craters. The CSM with Ron Evans can be seen in the left distance with the South Massif in the background. Henry is the furthermost of the three largish craters at the foot of the North Massif to the right - JSC scan
111:00:04 Schmitt: Super targeting.
AS17-147-22465 - Gene took this photo on the orbit before final descent. On the final approach, Gene flew Challenger down over the Sculptured Hills (low, knobby hills in sunlight just right of frame center) and out over the valley floor before landing a little north of the Trident group of craters. The CSM with Ron Evans can be seen in the left distance with the South Massif in the background. Henry is the furthermost of the three largish craters at the foot of the North Massif to the right - JSC scan
111:00:06 Cernan: Gosh, we've got Family Mountain; we've got - of course - the Massif; we can see the Scarp; we can see the light mantle; I've got the Great Cross, Camelot, Sherlock.
AS17-147-22466 - CSM, Apollo 17 Landing site - JSC scan
111:00:19 Schmitt: Believe it or not, Houston, they're all there.
AS17-147-22467 - CSM, Apollo 17 Landing site - JSC scan
111:00:23 Fullerton: How about that.
111:00:24 Schmitt: I see possible structure - possible structure in the upper part of the South Massif, little bit east of Station 2. It's subhorizontal, dipping to the southeast.
111:00:40 Cernan: Houston, I can even see Poppy, right where we're going to set this baby down.
111:00:45 Fullerton: Very good.
111:00:47 Cernan: As a matter of fact, I can see Rudolph. I can even see the triangle: Rudolph, Frosty, and Punk. [Pause.] Man, Gordo, this is absolutely spectacular.
AS17-147-22468 - Distant view of CSM viewed from LM - JSC scan
AS17-147-22468 - Cropped versions of the distant view of the CSM as viewed from LM. Low resolution and high resolution versions compared - JSC and ASU scans
111:01:09 Fullerton: Sure sounds like it.
111:01:11 Cernan: We can watch Ron track - we can watch Ron track right on through the landmarks. I don't know what kind of results he got, but he sure had a nice smooth track from here.
111:01:25 Fullerton: Roger. [Long pause.]
111:01:37 Schmitt: Gordo, you can go ahead and update us with those words.
111:01:40 Fullerton: Okay. Your perilune is shifting west. PDI will be a little higher than nominal: 10.7 miles or 65,000 feet [19.8 km]; should be no problem. And, from the time you first came around until we had a solid lockup on the steerable on this acquisition was about 3 minutes. We're going to try to speed that up some on the next time around. We'd like you to just keep trying the steerable until we come to you - and say, "stop trying." Over.
111:02:13 Schmitt: Okay, Gordy, understand that; and apparently this time, had I let it - had I waited a little longer, it would have dropped to zero and then come up, because that's what happened when I finally got you. I'll give it more time next time.
111:02:28 Fullerton: Okay. [Pause.]
111:02:38 Fullerton: And, Jack, I've got lots of PADs for you whenever you're ready. [Long pause.]
111:03:37 Schmitt: Okay, Gordy; go with the PADs.
111:03:39 Fullerton: Okay. The first one is a P76 with a CSM circ. [Pause.]
111:03:49 Schmitt: Go.
111:03:51 Fullerton: Okay. Noun 33 is 111:57:30.09; Noun 84: plus 0070.5, plus five zeros, and minus 0000.5. Go ahead. [Pause.]
111:04:26 Schmitt: Okay. 111:57:30.09; plus 0070.5, plus all zeros, minus four zeros 5.
111:04:37 Fullerton: Okay. Good readback. Next one I have is the No-PDI plus 12 abort, item Echo.
111:04:46 Schmitt: Go ahead.
111:04:47 Fullerton: Okay. Echo is 113:02:00.00; Foxtrot, plus 0103.4, plus five zeros, minus 0050.0; Noun 42: 0142.0, plus 0005.4, 0114.9; burn time is 0:48; 000, 272; 373...
111:05:43 Cernan: [Speaking to Ron] Okay. Just a second. Give me a transponder, and we'll start with the radar. Jack's tied up right now.
111:05:50 Fullerton: 373 is 0182.0; AGS Delta-Vs: plus 0103.7, plus five zeros, minus 0049.3; Golf, 113:57:00.00; Hotel, 11 - I'll start over - 115:36:45.00; and the No-DOI-2 Delta-VX, 0096.6. Two remarks: throttle profile is 10 percent for 26 seconds, 40 percent for the rest of the burn. Over. [Long pause.]
111:07:14 Schmitt: Okay, readback. 11 - No-PDI plus 12 - 113:02 all zeros; plus 0103.4, plus all zeros, minus 0050.0; 0142.0, plus three zeros 5.4, 0114.9; 0:48; all zeros, 272; 0182.0; plus 0103.7, plus all zeros, minus 0049.3; 113:57 all zeros; 115:36:45.00; 0096.6; remarks: throttle profile 10 percent for 26 seconds; 40 percent for the remainder.
111:08:06 Fullerton: Okay, that's a good readback. Item India: 112:49:52.35...
111:08:19 Cernan: Say, Gordo.
111:08:20 Fullerton: Go ahead.
111:08:21 Cernan: Gordo, Gordo. Hey, Gordo; stand by. We want to finish the radar VHF test; and when I go to P52, you can finish the PADs.
111:08:29 Fullerton: Okay. [Long pause.]
111:08:45 Cernan: Okay. We're in VHF Ranging, and I've got you on radar, Ron. We'll be quiet for a second and see if you can get a lockon. [Long pause.]
111:09:07 Evans: Ah-ha! it works! Point - 0.50 miles.
111:09:09 Cernan: Okay. [Pause.]
111:09:16 Evans: Okay, 0.50 or 0.49 miles. [Long pause.]
111:09:34 Cernan: Okay, Gordo. The VHF ranging and radar checks out very well.
111:09:40 Fullerton: Okay, sounds good. Tell me when you're ready for item India again. [Long pause.]
111:10:02 Schmitt: We cut you off, Ron.
111:10:05 Evans: Okay, I'm going to turn the Ranging, Off, then. The comm's a little better that way.
111:10:10 Schmitt: Go ahead, Gordy.
111:10:11 Fullerton: Okay. India is 112:49:52.35; 11:01, plus 0002.2; attitude is 002, 108, 290; plus 56900, Juliett: 115:36:45.00; Kilo: 117:35:45.00. Go ahead.
111:11:13 Schmitt: Okay. It's a PDI PAD; 112:49:52.35; 11:01, plus three zeros 2.2; 002, 108, 290; plus 56900; Juliett, 115:36:45.00; Karen, 117:35:45.00. Go ahead.
111:11:44 Fullerton: Okay, that's a good readback. Lima is 113:14:24.91; Maytro, 119:34:30.00; and November is 114:57:19.09; And your T-2 at PDI - T-2 will be at PDI plus 24:33. [Pause.]
111:12:38 Schmitt: 24:33?
111:12:40 Fullerton: That's affirmative. [Pause.]
111:12:48 Schmitt: Okay, Linda is 113:14:24.91; Mary is 119:34:30.00, and Nancy is 114:57:19.09.
111:13:05 Fullerton: That's a good readback. [Pause.]
111:13:15 Fullerton: Okay, one thing left, Jack, is the SHe pressures on the PDI page. [Pause.]
111:13:28 Schmitt: Go ahead.
111:13:30 Fullerton: Okay; at TIG, the pressure will be 1310; plus 1 minute, 1410; 2 minutes, 1400; 3 minutes, 1310; and 4 minutes, 1230. Over.
111:24:56 Schmitt: Roger, America. Have a good burn. [Pause.] You look just as pretty in earthlight as you do in sunlight. [Long pause.]
111:25:35 Fullerton: We see that. Looks like a good job. [Pause.]
111:25:45 Cernan: Yeah, but it's not an easy one, Gordo. [Pause.]
111:25:58 Evans: - to Receive only. Hey, Challenger; America.
111:26:04 Schmitt: Go ahead.
111:26:05 Evans: Okay, Jack, can you go to Receive only on your VHF there? I've got all these PADs to pick up now. I'll call you when - when I'm all through.
111:26:15 Schmitt: Okay, Receive only. We got your Go, Gordo?
111:29:00 Schmitt: Okay, Gordo, the COAS alignment's good and the DAP is reset.
111:29:05 Fullerton: Okay, and like the rest of the spacecraft, the platform's beautiful, there's no drift compensation or PIPA bias update. Over.
111:29:17 Schmitt: Beautiful. [Pause.] It's [garble] kind of like a [garble]
111:29:31 Fullerton: Like to give you one update, you can write it in the Timeline, page 8; the T-1 time is PDI plus 17:00. Over. [Pause.]
111:29:51 Cernan: Okay; T-1 is PDI plus 17:00, we got it.
111:29:55 Fullerton: Roger. [Long pause.]
111:30:29 Schmitt: Okay, Houston, you got P00 and Data.
111:30:33 Fullerton: Okay. [Long pause.]
111:31:35 Cernan: Gordo, can I start maneuvering to the AGS cal while you're getting those updates - uplinks ready?
111:31:45 Fullerton: Okay, we'd like the steerable back again. Try Pitch of minus 25, and Yaw of minus 72. [Long pause.]
111:32:24 Schmitt: Okay; you got the steerable.
111:32:27 Fullerton: Okay, we need High bit rate. [Long pause.]
111:32:48 Fullerton: We're starting the uplinks now. We'll get that in before we go to the AGS cal attitude. Over.
111:32:57 Cernan: Okay, Gordo, I've got - I've got the Earth and the direction I have to maneuver is nothing but good for the high gain, so I'll start over slowly.
111:48:04 - This is Apollo Control. We've had Loss of Signal as America and Challenger, coasting along nearby each other, passed behind the Moon on revolution number 12. Some 47 minutes until they come back around again on the 13th lunar revolution. Behind the Moon this time, the Command Service Module, piloted by Ron Evans, will do the CSM circularization maneuver which will place the spacecraft back up into an almost circular lunar orbit, measuring 69.7 by 54.5 [nautical miles, 129.1 by 100.1 km], those are the targeted measurements of that orbit. Ignition time, again which will be behind the Moon and out of contact, is Ground Elapsed Time of 111:57:28. The Lunar Module DOI, or Descent Orbit Insertion burn number 2 also will be behind the Moon before we reacquire the spacecraft. That is scheduled for 112 hours, 2 minutes, 40 seconds. It's a fairly small burn of 7.6 feet per second, which will lower the pericynthion of Challenger down to 6½ miles - nautical miles [12.0 km] with apocynthion staying at 61.5 nautical miles [113.9 km]. During the next front side pass, comes the moment of truth with powered descent, and touchdown at Taurus-Littrow landing site as Challenger lights off the big descent engine at 112 hours, 49 minutes, 52 seconds Ground Elapsed Time. The ignition countdown clock in the control center is counting down to PDI, some 59 minutes, 17 - 16 seconds until ignition with landing shortly under 12 minutes later, depending on the amount of hover time available. The broadcast line will be brought up again just prior to Acquisition of Signal as America and Challenger come around on the front side again on revolution 13. And at 111 hours, 51 minutes; this is Apollo Control.
111:48:00 Cernan (onboard-LM): Ron, do you still read us?
Evans (onboard): Yes, loud and clear. How me?
Evans (onboard): Challenger, America. Do you read me?
Cernan (onboard-LM): [Garble] clear.
Evans (onboard): Okay. You're still clipping a little bit. All I got was the "clear," but that's all right.
Cernan (onboard-LM): Loud and clear.
111:48:32 Evans (onboard): I got that part. Loud and clear.
Evans (onboard): Okay. Coming up on 8 minutes.
111:49:31 Evans (onboard): Mark it.
111:50:56 Evans (onboard): Okay. Bat Bus B - AC. That's slow coming up any minute. [Garble] good shape.
111:51:15 Evans (onboard): Okay. Helium valves [garble] in Auto - N2A. Servo Power, 1; got it; 2's going on. Okay. [Garble] controller's at AC. Directs are Off. BMAGs are uncaged. No hardovers. Go to SCS. Okay. Pitch 1;
got it. Yaw 1; got it.
Schmitt (onboard): Okay, trim. Plus [garble] 4, and - plus 0.9. Okay. Try a little MTVC - MTVC - TVC. Whoo! Sure bangs it around. Okay. Okay. Let's see now. Where are we? [Garble] MTVC. Okay, Spacecraft Control back to CMC; return to zero; go clockwise. No MTVC. [Garble] okay. Gimbal motors, Pitch 2, got it. Yaw 2; got it. Okay. Got a little trim. Plus 0.4, plus 0.9.
111:53:00 Evans (onboard): Okay. MTVC - TVC, MTVC - TVC. Looking good. Okay. Neutral, returns to zero. Okay, no MTVC. AC/DC on the old Power. Put up the Directs. Cage the old BMAGs. Okay. BMAGs are Rate 2. DSKY Release. 50 18, Proceed. [Garble] 18. The 50 18 says we're there. Uncage the old BMAGs, and there's the 50 18.
Cernan (onboard): Okay. Try the gimbal test option.
Schmitt (onboard): Plus 2, minus 2, zero, plus 2, minus 2, zero.
111:54:10 Evans (onboard): 1, 2, 3, 4, - ah-ha! We have drift. Plus 0.4; plus 0.9; 3 minutes and 60 seconds to go.
111:54:23 Evans (onboard): 59.9. The Delta-VC burn time was 4 seconds. [Garble] burn time plus 1. Manual [garble] with the Directs On. [Garble] burn [garble].
111:56:36 Evans (onboard): Okay. [Garble] is Normal. [Garble] Control Power is Off. [Garble] Delta-V plus 8. [Garble] before I take another [garble]. Okay. Average g. [Garble] is on. You guys still hear me? Challenger, America. Do you read?
SC (onboard): Yes.
111:57:21 Evans (onboard): Okay. At 17 seconds. There's ullage. We have ullage. 99 Proceed. Oh-ho! [Garble] down! Ho - Ho! [Garble] burn.
111:57:41 SC (onboard): Mark.
Evans (onboard): Okay. 59. [Garble.] [Garble] everything over the hill. Okay 59.2. 59.9. Okay. Let 's Proceed out of that. Turn the old Gimbal Motors Off. Okay. Status. 2; got it. 1; got it. 1; got it. Ah-ha! Okay. Hey, did you guys get the word? The burn is complete. I'll trim it up.
Cernan (onboard): Ron, do you copy Challenger? We copy your burn.
111:58:41 Evans (onboard): Okay. Burn is complete. And all good residuals.
Schmitt (onboard): [Garble.]
112:00:36 Schmitt (onboard): Ron, we're 210 from the burn.
Evans (onboard): Okay. Copy it.
112:01:53 Schmitt (onboard): And we're burning right at the terminator, Ron.
Evans (onboard): Ha-ha. Okay. I'm in a 70 by 54.7.
Cernan (onboard): Okay. The DSKY is blank.
112:02:12 Evans (onboard): Okay.
112:02:50 SC (onboard): [Garble.]
Schmitt (onboard-LM): Beautiful.
Evans (onboard): I guess the burn is complete, huh?
Cernan (onboard-LM): [Garble.]
Evans (onboard): [Garble] complete [garble].
Cernan (onboard-LM): Hey, Ron, [garble] update the state vector?
112:04:30 Evans (onboard): Okay. We'll update the state vector.
Cernan (onboard-LM): Ron, we have a fuel [garble].
Evans (onboard): That's pretty close. [Garble].
Evans (onboard): Forgot to look at the [garble] on that.
112:00:00 Cernan (onboard-LM): [Garble] 21 minutes until we [garble].
Evans (onboard): [Garble.]
112:08:54 Evans (onboard): Okay, [garble] A.
Evans (onboard): [Garble]. Last move.
Evans (onboard): [Garble.]
SC (onboard): [Garble.]
112:09:XX : BEGIN LUNAR REV 13
112:27:41 Cernan (onboard-LM): Okay. [Garble] PDI. [Garble] unless you want to say something. [Garble] call you.
ALSJ - Evans did his circularization burn and, five minutes later, the LM crew did a more modest burn to move the low point of their orbit down to 10½ miles over a point east of the landing site.
112:33:34 - This is Apollo Control at 112 hours, 33 minutes Ground Elapsed Time in the mission of Apollo 17. Coming up on Acquisition of Signal of both spacecraft, America and Challenger, coming from behind the Moon on the 13th lunar orbit. Some 1 minute, 32 seconds away from acquisition of the Command Module and slightly under three minutes on the Lunar Module, Challenger. Challenger, during this revolution will descend to the surface of the Moon and land at the Taurus-Littrow landing site. Ignition time currently is Ground Elapsed Time of 112 hours, 49 minutes, 52 seconds. During the descent to the surface the spacecraft onboard computer will be generating numbers on the display which the Lunar Module Pilot will call out to the commander and which - angles at which the commander should be able to see the landing site through a grid etched on the left hand window of the Lunar Module. Here, we have AOS. AOS of the Command Service Module and the circulars - the circularization burn was good. This is Apollo Control on the air-ground 2 circuit. Command Module Pilot Ron Evans is giving the CapCom all of the residuals. Here comes Challenger. Back to the lunar landing sequence as the Lunar Module Pilot reads out the angles that the Commander ought to be able to see the landing site. The Commander is able to run through an operation called redesignation by using a pitch hand controller to rotate the spacecraft.
112:36:XX Schmitt: Hello, Houston. How do you read Challenger?
112:36:XX Fullerton: Challenger, you're loud and clear.
112:36:XX Schmitt: Hello, Houston. How do you read Challenger on an Omni right now?
ALSJ - At AOS on the 13th orbit, Evans reappeared first and confirmed that the LM burn had gone well. And then, once Houston had a bit more tracking data with which to update the LM computer, everything was ready for the landing.
112:37:03 Fullerton: Okay, Challenger, you're loud and clear on the Omni. How did it go?
112:37:12 Schmitt: Okay, The burn was Go. We're in a 7-mile perigee on the PGNS, and we had 0, plus 0.1 and plus 0.1 residuals.
112:37:21 Fullerton: Okay, sounds good.
112:37:25 Schmitt: Ok - Okay, Gordy, I'm going to try the high gain I had you locked up once, and then I lost you. Let me try it again.
112:37:32 Fullerton: We concur. Go ahead, Jack. [Long pause.]
112:38:01 Schmitt: Okay, Gordy, that's my fault. I didn't know you were uplinking. You've got the Omni, and I'll leave it.
112:38:07 Fullerton: Okay, we'll stay on the Omni for the uplink. [Long pause.]
112:38:52 Schmitt: Okay, Gordy, ED Bats are 37.2, both batteries. The ascent battery On time was 112:19:00, about 4 minutes late.
112:39:06 Fullerton: Okay, Jack. Copy.
112:39:11 Fullerton: Jack, we want Battery 3, Off for preconditioning.
112:39:19 Schmitt: Roger. [Pause.]
112:39:30 Fullerton: Challenger, we'd like you to verify that the...
112:39:31 Schmitt: And we did [garble], Gordy.
112:39:33 Fullerton: [Garble] is egress.
112:39:41 Schmitt: That's verified.
112:39:44 Fullerton: Roger. [Pause.]
112:39:55 Schmitt: And do you have a 231 update?
112:39:59 Fullerton: Stand by. Negative. No change, Jack.
112:40:14 Schmitt: Roger.
112:40:15 Cernan: Okay, Gordo, how do you read CDR on Vox?
112:40:18 Fullerton: CDR, you're loud and clear on Vox.
112:40:23 Schmitt: Okay. How do you read the LMP on Vox?
112:40:26 Fullerton: Loud and clear, Jack.
112:40:33 Cernan: Okay. Gordo, up until this time, the bird has looked beautiful - perfectly plain. All the check's have come out just as advertised.
112:40:44 Fullerton: Okay, sounds good.
112:40:48 Schmitt: And we're looking at 9 minutes and 5 seconds from PDI.
112:40:55 Fullerton: Challenger, do you see a Verb 33 out of DSKY? If you do, Enter it.
112:41:03 Schmitt: Okay, it's there, and I will Enter.
112:41:05 Fullerton: Roger.
112:41:05 Schmitt: Okay, it took; and I'm showing P00.
112:41:10 Fullerton: Okay. Your computer; the uplink's in.
112:41:20 Schmitt: Okay, we've got a tone on the upvoice backup.
112:41:26 Fullerton: Roger.
112:41:27 Cernan: Verb 47 coming in at you, Jack. Okay, hit it. Okay, I got it. 240 - wait - 231, 569, 00, that's supposed to be. Okay, 569, 00 [garble] 240s are the same - 569, 00.
112:42:16 Schmitt: Okay.
112:42:19 Cernan: Okay, 254 is plus 01944.
112:42:25 Schmitt: Okay.
112:42:26 Cernan: Okay, 262 is minus 00143. Okay, 400 plus 3, and I'll watch it.
112:42:41 Schmitt: How's it look?
112:42:44 Schmitt: It's - it's had that all the way along - a little bit of roll bias.
112:42:45 Cernan: Okay. That's good. 400 plus 1.
112:42:53 Schmitt: 400 plus 1 is in.
112:42:54 Cernan: Okay, and we do have your needle. We do have your needle.
112:42:58 Schmitt: Okay.
112:42:59 Cernan: Okay, and there's Verb 83 looking at you.
112:43:03 Schmitt: My Crosspointers are Low Mult for you.
112:43:06 Cernan: Okay, and there's Verb 83. Give me a 317 and a 440.
112:43:10 Fullerton: Challenger, Houston. We'd like you to try the high gain once more. Pitch is minus - Pitch is zero and Yaw plus 59.
112:43:24 Cernan: Are you happy with this, Jack? Let me [garble] 63.
112:43:28 Schmitt: Yes. Go ahead.
112:43:29 Cernan: Okay.
112:43:29 Schmitt: That's good.
112:43:32 Cernan: Gordy, understand no Noun 68 prior to P63 or Noun 69, right?
112:43:38 Fullerton: That's affirmative.
112:43:44 Schmitt: [Garble] you need to ask him anything, I'll try the high gain.
112:43:46 Cernan: No. Go ahead; try it.
112:43:47 Schmitt: Try the high gain, Gordy.
112:43:50 Fullerton: Okay.
112:43:52 Schmitt: Okay, it's locked up in Auto.
112:43:55 Fullerton: Roger.
112:44:01 Schmitt: And, Gordy, be advised that you're clipping on your first word.
112:44:07 Fullerton: Okay, Jack. We'd like you to set 410 in the AGS to all balls. Plus all balls.
112:44:19 Schmitt: That's 410, 410 not 400. Check that again.
112:44:26 Fullerton: That's affirmative; 410.
112:44:33 Schmitt: Thank you, Gordy.
112:44:34 Cernan: You better go back and check 400 now.
112:44:38 Schmitt: It's okay. I fixed it.
112:44:40 Cernan: Okay.
112:44:46 Schmitt: Oh, man, are we down among them, babe! Whooh! [garble]
112:44:49 Fullerton: Challenger, Houston. I have a PDI TIG update. It's 112:49:51.87. And Noun 61 cross range should be a plus 2.8. Over.
112:45:10 Schmitt: Okay. Say the seconds again on the PDI.
112:45:13 Fullerton: PDI seconds are 51.87. Over.
112:45:21 Schmitt: Okay. And the cross range?
112:45:24 Fullerton: Cross range is - is a plus 2.8. Over.
112:45:33 Schmitt: Okay, Gordy. That clock checks with - with our time out of P63. The Landing Radar breaker's In, I've got altitude, velocity, power. We're coming up on 4 minutes.
112:45:48 Cernan: I'll give you the final trim at 4.
112:45:49 Schmitt: Okay.
112:45:51 Fullerton: Challenger, Houston. You're Go for PDI.
112:45:57 Cernan: Oh, thank you, Gordy. We are Go up here for PDI; doing the final trim at 4.
112:46:16 Cernan: Hello, America. Do you read Challenger?
112:46:26 Evans: Yes, that's a good point, I'll go ahead and get it.
112:46:31 Cernan: Hey, Jack, you can check your watch.
112:46:36 Schmitt: Okay.
112:46:37 Cernan: At 2 minutes, I'll get the Master Arm.
112:46:39 Schmitt: All right.
112:46:40 Cernan: 30 seconds, I'll get the Engine Arm; and we'll watch the PGNS tapemeter pick up average G. If you give me a Go on the ullage, I'll back up the ullage.
112:46:51 Schmitt: Okay.
112:46:52 Cernan: And I'll back up the Start.
112:46:55 Fullerton: Challenger, should we lose the steerable,...
112:46:56 Cernan: You get the steerable.
112:46:57 Fullerton: ...go Forward Omni.
112:47:01 Schmitt: Roger. Forward Omni.
112:47:12 Schmitt: [Garble] down a little bit.
112:47:15 Cernan: Okay, 02:41. [Long pause.]
112:47:43 Cernan: Okay, we picked it all up. Power still good.
112:47:50 Schmitt: Okay. Coming up on 2 minutes [to Powered Descent Initiation, PDI]; I'm changing over here.
112:47:52 Cernan: Okay.
112:47:54 Schmitt: Master Arm, On. Two minutes [to go until ignition].
112:47:58 Cernan: Okay, Houston. 2 minutes. Master Arm is On. I've got two good lights.
112:48:00 Fullerton: Roger.
112:48:01 Schmitt: Mode Select is PGNS.
112:48:03 Cernan: Okay. Once again, in average G, I'll get the Engine Arm (switch). You confirm the ullage, I'll get the Pro. I'll back up the ullage and get the Start.
112:48:10 Schmitt: Roger. [Pause.]
112:48:20 Fullerton: Challenger, we're going to leave Batt(ery) 3, Off...
112:48:22 Schmitt: [Garble] Auto, Auto.
112:48:22 Fullerton: ...until after ignition. We'll call you.
112:48:26 Schmitt: [To Fullerton] Roger. Yeah, I should have put that on like we talked about.
In just under two minutes, Gene and Jack will begin their descent to the surface when the LM's descent engine ignites for its long burn. The progress of the surface mission can be followed in the Apollo 17 Lunar Surface Journal (link below). This flight journal continues with the solo mission of Ron Evans in orbit around the Moon.
