Moonship, December 1972

[SorellaLaBefana]

In this picture of Apollo 17—the LAST moon mission—the pilot can be seen peering out from the triangular window to the right of the small round structure.

Awkward and angular looking, Apollo 17's lunar module Challenger was designed for flight in the near vacuum of space...

...this picture taken from Apollo 17's command module America shows Challenger's ascent stage in lunar orbit. Small reaction control thrusters are at the sides of the moonship with the bell of the ascent rocket engine underneath. The hatch that allowed access to the lunar surface is seen at the front, with a round radar antenna at the top. Mission commander Gene Cernan is clearly visible through the triangular window.

This spaceship performed gracefully, landing on the Moon and returning the Apollo astronauts to the orbiting command module in December of 1972. So where is Challenger now?

While its descent stage remains at the Apollo 17 landing site in the Taurus-Littrow valley, the ascent stage pictured was intentionally crashed nearby after being jettisoned from the command module prior to the astronauts' return to planet Earth.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251227.html
[ed: reformatted from original solid block of text]

A lot was done with that over half-century old tech. Suggesting that dreams and desire are of more import than the latest gadgets when it comes to accomplishment.

[erronis]

1. This reminds me of the time I took some visiting French professionals to the Air and Space Museum

At the Smithsonian around 1976 (the Bi-Centennial celebration and exhibits.)

First we toured the Natural History museum, then the Old Castle which held exhibits of various artifacts from 200 years earlier. I remember looking at some of the fine brass and wood instruments (telescopes and microscopes, etc.) and remarking "They just don't make things like this anymore."

Then we went to the Air and Space Museum and toured the floors with the huge towering rockets and flying machines. Eventually we ended up in front of one of the lunar rovers, seemingly made with plastic parts and covered with fragile foil. Someone pointed out that the changes in material and construction from 200 years earlier were a sign of progress.

[SorellaLaBefana]

2. The Wright Flyer and Glamorous Glennis...

...are other Flying Machines I recall seeing in that Magical Place when visted as a child and then, years later, as an adult—and found that the Magic was Still There.

Oh, and then there was also the first airplane to fly across America—the Vin Fiz (named after the grape drink of the sponsor). It took 49 days and multiple crashes to make it from NYC to Pasadena.

[erronis]

3. Thanks. Now I'm off into the wonderful world of research and learning.

I didn't know of those terms "Glamorous Glennis" and "Vin Fix". Now I do.