[Apollo 17]

FLOWN TO THE LUNAR SURFACE ON THE FINAL MISSION TO THE MOON  

Apollo 17 was the final mission of NASA's Apollo program, which launched on December 7, 1972, with Gene Cernan as its commander. 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." As Cernan boarded the LM Challenger, he became the last man to walk on the Moon.  

The Helmet/LEVA Interim Stowage Container was an open bag that could be hung out of the way and was used to store LEVAs and pressure helmets during rest periods between EVAs and then removed to make room for EVA preparation. There were also two Helmet Stowage Bags (HSB) which were used for longer term storage of the Lunar Extravehicular Visor Assembly (LEVA) and EVA gloves and were situated on the Lunar Module (LM) cabin floor, one on either side of the Lunar Module Pilot’s (LMP’s) Portable Life Support System (PLSS). Unlike the HSB, there was only this single LEVA Interim Stowage Container aboard the Apollo 17 LM. 

Cernan and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt spent 3 days on the moon, nearly 22 hours of which was walking and driving the Lunar Roving Vehicle during their 3 EVAs and during which they collected 254 pounds of lunar sample material. Their helmets would have often been placed in this Interim Stowage Container between each of their EVAs. Considering the electrostatic nature of lunar regolith dust, the material that would have accrued on their helmets was inevitably transferred into the LM and would, in turn, have transferred to a bag storing EVA gear. It’s also important to note that lunar surface flown gear of this size rarely, if ever, appears on the market. 

Jones, Eric M. & Ken Glover, eds. Apollo Lunar Surface Journal. 1995-2017.