2015-12-07 Mon

Apollo 17, the last manned mission to moon so far, was launched on 7th December, 1972. It marked the end of programme that took 12 men to the surface of the moon.

Apollo 17 was the first mission to include a scientist in its crew. Apollo 17 explored the lunar surface for 22 hours. The astronauts drove around about 34 kilometres in the lunar rover. They brought back 108 kilograms of lunar rocks. The Apollo 17 astronauts also left behind a plaque that read:

"Here Man completed his first exploration of the Moon, December 1972 A.D. May the spirit of peace in which we came be reflected in the lives of all mankind."

To commemorate this many stamps were issued of denominations 2 c, 3 c, 10 c, 15c, 20 c etc depicting the crew and their equipments on the lunar surface. Also many commemorative medallions and coins were issued with the official logo of the NASA Apollo 17 mission. An official 40th Anniversary Commemorative Medallion NASA contains the metal flown to the moon on the Apollo mission.

Many collectibles celebrating Apollo 17 and the golden age of space are also introduced which include exclusive photographs, ‘First footprints’ emblems, antique silver medallions which are minted from the actual parts of the Apollo command modules, replicas of the plaque left back on the moon by the astronauts of the Apollo 17 and other legacies of the Apollo.