[Apollo 17]

Apollo 17 was the final mission of NASA's Apollo program, which launched on December 7, 1972, with Gene Cernan as its commander. It was a “J-Type” mission, which are the Apollo missions that included the Lunar Roving Vehicle, which enabled greater distance to be traveled, were three-day stays with multiple EVAs (Extravehicular Activity) and enhanced scientific capability. The scientific aspect of the mission was so important that Geologist Harrison Schmitt, the first of the scientist-astronauts to fly, was bumped up to Apollo 17 from his previous assignment on Apollo 18 when that mission was cancelled. The crew accomplished much during their 3 EVAs, including the discovery of the famous “orange soil” that point toward lunar volcanic activity about 3.5 million years ago and a total haul of 254 pounds of lunar samples. 

Before reentering the LM for the final time, Gene Cernan expressed his thoughts thus: "as I take man's last step from the surface, back home for some time to come...I'd like to just [say] what I believe history will record. That America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow. And, as we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind." 

The present card was used aboard the Lunar Module Challenger during its three days on the lunar surface. It provides instructions for communications from the lunar surface, but also includes “Final Systems Prep” that lists instructions to follow directly before the first EVA at 116.14.