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Apollo 17
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Apollo 17

Last crewed Moon landing in December 1972, 54 years before Artemis II.

Last refreshed: 2 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Why did 54 years pass between the last Moon landing and Artemis II?

Timeline for Apollo 17

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Background

Apollo 17 launched on 7 December 1972 carrying Eugene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt and Ron Evans. Cernan and Schmitt spent three days on the lunar surface at Taurus-Littrow, with Cernan becoming the last human to walk on the Moon.

The mission set records for the longest lunar surface stay (75 hours), the greatest distance travelled by a lunar roving vehicle (35 km) and the largest sample return (110 kg of lunar rock). Harrison Schmitt was the only professional geologist to walk on the Moon.

The 54-year gap between Apollo 17 and Artemis II is the longest hiatus in human deep-space exploration history. Artemis II does not land — it is a free-return flyby — so Cernan technically remains the last person to have stood on the lunar surface until a later Artemis mission lands.

Common Questions
Who was the last person on the Moon?
Eugene Cernan, commander of Apollo 17, who Left the lunar surface on 14 December 1972.Source: Lowdown briefing analysis
When was the last Moon landing before Artemis?
Apollo 17 in December 1972, a 54-year gap before Artemis II's crewed lunar flyby in 2026.Source: Lowdown briefing analysis
Did Artemis II land on the Moon?
No. Artemis II is a free-return flyby; no landing occurs. Cernan remains the last person to have walked on the Moon.Source: Lowdown briefing analysis
What records did Apollo 17 set?
Longest lunar surface stay (75 hrs), greatest rover distance (35 km), largest sample return (110 kg). Only mission with a professional geologist on the surface.Source: Lowdown briefing analysis