last Apollo mission
Definition
The final crewed mission of NASA's Apollo program, designated Apollo 17, launched on December 7, 1972, and achieved the sixth and most recent manned lunar landing, with astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt exploring the Taurus-Littrow valley.
A historical reference to the end of the Apollo era, symbolizing the pinnacle of 20th-century space exploration before a decades-long hiatus in human Moon landings.
Examples
After the last Apollo mission, moonwalkers traded lunar rovers for golf carts at retirement parties.
Gene Cernan quipped that the last Apollo mission was like the ultimate road trip, minus the flat tire on re-entry.
Watching footage from the last Apollo mission reminds us why 'one small step' felt like a giant flex.
The last Apollo mission's night launch was NASA's way of saying goodbye under the stars, literally.