“The Apollo 17 capsule and crew splashed down at 2:25 p.m. EST on Dec. 19, 1972. The mission marked the longest Apollo mission [to the moon], 504 hours, and the longest lunar surface stay time, 75 hours, which allowed the astronauts to conduct extensive geological investigations. They collected 257 pounds (117 kilograms) of lunar samples with the help of the Lunar Roving Vehicle developed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.” Image credit: NASA