The last manned mission to the Moon was Apollo 17. It launched on December 7, 1972, and concluded on December 19, 1972, marking the sixth and final lunar landing of NASA's Apollo program.

Mission Details

Apollo 17 featured Commander Eugene Cernan, Lunar Module Pilot Harrison H. Schmitt (a geologist), and Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans. Cernan and Schmitt spent over 22 hours on the lunar surface across three EVAs, traversing the Taurus-Littrow valley and collecting 249 pounds of samples.

This mission set records, including the longest lunar stay (75 hours) and the largest sample return, emphasizing science amid waning political support.

The Apollo 17 crew stands by their Lunar Rover near the mission's landing site, capturing the rugged lunar terrain they explored.

Why No Return Since 1972?

Post-Apollo funding shifted to the Space Shuttle and ISS, halting crewed Moon missions despite plans for Apollo 18-20. No humans have walked on the Moon in over 53 years as of April 2026.

NASA's Artemis program aims to change this, targeting crewed landings by late 2026 with Artemis III, building on uncrewed successes like Artemis I (2022).

Key Facts

  • Landing date : December 11, 1972 (UTC).
  • Last steps : Gene Cernan departed the surface on December 14, 1972, saying, "We leave as we came, and God willing, as we shall return."
  • Total Moonwalkers : 12 astronauts across Apollo 11-17.
  • Records broken : Longest moonwalk (7+ hours by Cernan), deepest landing site.

Trending Context & Future

As of 2026, Artemis delays dominate discussions—NASA eyes 2026-2027 for the next boots on the Moon, partnering with SpaceX's Starship. Forums buzz with excitement over private ventures like dearMoon (canceled) and China's taikonaut plans, but Apollo 17 remains the historical benchmark.

TL;DR : Apollo 17 (Dec 1972) was the last; Artemis promises a return soon.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.