Apollo 17 Timeline

 

 

Event

GET

(hhh:mm:ss)

GMT

Time

GMT

Date

Terminal countdown started.

-028:00:00

12:53:00

05 Dec 1972

Scheduled 9-hour hold at T-9 hours.

-009:00:00

07:53:00

06 Dec 1972

Countdown resumed at T-9 hours.

-009:00:00

16:53:00

06 Dec 1972

Scheduled 1-hour hold at T-3 hours 30 minutes.

-003:30:00

22:23:00

06 Dec 1972

Countdown resumed at T-3 hours 30 minutes.

-003:30:00

23:23:00

06 Dec 1972

Terminal Countdown Sequencer (TCS) failed to issue the S-IVB LOX pressurization

   command.

 

-000:02:47

 

02:50:13

 

07 Dec 1972

Unscheduled but automatic 1-hour 5-minute 11-second hold at T-30 seconds due to TCS

   failure.

 

-000:00:30

 

02:52:30

 

07 Dec 1972

Countdown recycled to T-22 minutes.

-000:22:00

03:57:41

07 Dec 1972

Unscheduled 1-hour 13-minute 19-second hold at T-8 minutes to resolve TCS corrective

   action.

 

-000:08:00

 

04:11:41

 

07 Dec 1972

Countdown resumed at T-8 minutes.

-000:08:00

05:25:00

07 Dec 1972

Guidance reference release.

-000:00:16.960

05:32:43

07 Dec 1972

S-IC engine start command.

-000:00:08.9

05:32:51

07 Dec 1972

S-IC engine ignition (#5).

-000:00:06.9

05:32:53

07 Dec 1972

All S-IC engines thrust OK.

-000:00:01.6

05:32:58

07 Dec 1972

Range zero.

000:00:00.00

05:33:00

07 Dec 1972

All holddown arms released (1st motion) (1.08 g).

000:00:00.24

05:33:00

07 Dec 1972

Liftoff (umbilical disconnected).

000:00:00.63

05:33:00

07 Dec 1972

Tower clearance yaw maneuver started.

000:00:01.7

05:33:01

07 Dec 1972

Yaw maneuver ended.

000:00:09.7

05:33:09

07 Dec 1972

Pitch and roll maneuver started.

000:00:12.9

05:33:12

07 Dec 1972

Roll maneuver ended.

000:00:14.3

05:33:14

07 Dec 1972

Mach 1 achieved.

000:01:07.5

05:34:07

07 Dec 1972

Maximum bending moment (96,000,000 lbf-in).

000:01:19

05:34:19

07 Dec 1972

Maximum dynamic pressure (701.75 lb/ft2).

000:01:22.5

05:34:22

07 Dec 1972

S-IC center engine cutoff command.

000:02:19.30

05:35:19

07 Dec 1972

Pitch maneuver ended.

000:02:40.1

05:35:40

07 Dec 1972

S-IC outboard engine cutoff. Maximum total inertial acceleration (3.87 g).

000:02:41.20

05:35:41

07 Dec 1972

S-IC maximum Earth-fixed velocity.

000:02:42.0

05:35:42

07 Dec 1972

S-IC/S-II separation command.

000:02:42.9

05:35:42

07 Dec 1972

S-II engine start command.

000:02:43.6

05:35:43

07 Dec 1972

S-II ignition.

000:02:44.6

05:35:44

07 Dec 1972

S-II aft interstage jettisoned.

000:03:12.9

05:36:12

07 Dec 1972

Launch escape tower jettisoned (planned time, actual time not recorded).

000:03:19

05:36:19

07 Dec 1972

Iterative guidance mode initiated.

000:03:24.1

05:36:24

07 Dec 1972

S-IC apex.

000:04:33.689

05:37:33

07 Dec 1972

S-II center engine cutoff. Maximum total inertial acceleration (1.74 g).

000:07:41.21

05:40:41

07 Dec 1972

S-IC impact (theoretical).

000:09:11.708

05:42:11

07 Dec 1972

S-II outboard engine cutoff.

000:09:19.66

05:42:19

07 Dec 1972

S-II/S-IVB separation command. S-II maximum Earth-fixed velocity.

000:09:20.6

05:42:20

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB 1st burn start command.

000:09:20.70

05:42:20

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB 1st burn ignition.

000:09:23.80

05:42:23

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB ullage case jettisoned.

000:09:32.4

05:42:32

07 Dec 1972

S-II apex.

000:09:34.527

05:42:34

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB 1st burn cutoff and maximum total inertial acceleration (0.67 g).

000:11:42.65

05:44:42

07 Dec 1972

Earth orbit insertion.

000:11:52.65

05:44:52

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB 1st burn maximum Earth-fixed velocity.

000:11:52.7

05:44:52

07 Dec 1972

Maneuver to local horizontal attitude started.

000:12:04.4

05:45:04

07 Dec 1972

S-II impact (theoretical).

000:19:56.947

05:52:56

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB 2nd burn restart preparation.

003:02:58.60

08:35:58

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB 2nd burn restart command.

003:12:28.60

08:45:28

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB 2nd burn ignition.

003:12:36.60

08:45:36

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB 2nd burn cutoff and maximum total inertial acceleration (1.41 g).

003:18:27.64

08:51:27

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB safing procedure – CVS opened.

003:18:28.3

08:51:28

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB 2nd burn maximum Earth-fixed velocity.

003:18:28.5

08:51:28

07 Dec 1972

Translunar injection.

003:18:37.64

08:51:37

07 Dec 1972

Maneuver to local horizontal attitude and orbital navigation started.

003:20:59.6

08:53:59

07 Dec 1972

Maneuver to transposition and docking attitude started.

003:33:28.9

09:06:28

07 Dec 1972

CSM separated from S-IVB.

003:42:27.6

09:15:27

07 Dec 1972

TV transmission started.

003:50

09:23

07 Dec 1972

CSM docked with LM/S-IVB.

003:57:10.7

09:30:10

07 Dec 1972

TV transmission ended.

004:10

09:43

07 Dec 1972

CSM/LM ejected from S-IVB.

004:45:02.3

10:18:02

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB APS evasive maneuver ignition.

005:03:01.1

10:36:01

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB APS evasive maneuver cutoff (estimated).

005:04:21.0

10:37:21

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB lunar impact maneuver - CVS opened.

005:19:39.8

10:52:39

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB lunar impact maneuver - LOX dump started.

005:24:20.2

10:57:20

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB lunar impact maneuver - CVS closed.

005:24:40.0

10:57:40

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB lunar impact maneuver - LOX dump ended.

005:25:07.9

10:58:07

07 Dec 1972

Maneuver to attitude for 1st S-IVB APS lunar impact burn.

006:02:15

11:35:15

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB lunar impact maneuver - 1st APS ignition command.

006:09:59.8

11:42:59

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB lunar impact maneuver - 1st APS cutoff command.

006:11:38.0

11:44:38

07 Dec 1972

Maneuver to S-IVB solar heating attitude.

006:17:44

11:50:44

07 Dec 1972

Maneuver to attitude for 2nd S-IVB APS lunar impact burn.

011:02:40

16:35:40

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB lunar impact maneuver - 2nd APS ignition command.

011:14:59.8

16:47:59

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB lunar impact maneuver - 2nd APS cutoff command.

011:16:42.0

16:49:42

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB 3-axis tumble mode initiated.

011:31:42

17:04:42

07 Dec 1972

S-IVB passive thermal control maneuver.

011:31:50

17:04:50

07 Dec 1972

Command to inhibit instrument unit flight control computer to leave the S-IVB in 3-axis

   tumble mode.

 

011:32:12.5

 

17:05:12

 

07 Dec 1972

Midcourse correction ignition (SPS).

035:29:59.91

17:02:59

08 Dec 1972

Midcourse correction cutoff.

035:30:01.64

17:03:01

08 Dec 1972

Maneuver to LM checkout attitude.

039:05

20:38

08 Dec 1972

Preparations for intravehicular transfer.

039:20

20:53

08 Dec 1972

LM pressurization started.

039:30

21:03

08 Dec 1972

CDR and LMP entered LM for housekeeping and communications check.

040:10

21:43

08 Dec 1972

LM closeout.

042:11

23:44

08 Dec 1972

Heat flow and convection demonstration started.

042:55

00:28

09 Dec 1972

Heat flow and convection demonstration ended.

043:45

01:18

09 Dec 1972

Heat flow and convection demonstration started.

045:20

02:53

09 Dec 1972

Heat flow and convection demonstration ended.

046:00

03:33

09 Dec 1972

LM pressurization started.

059:30

17:03

09 Dec 1972

CDR and LMP entered LM for telemetry checkout.

059:59

17:32

09 Dec 1972

CDR and LMP entered CM.

062:16

19:49

09 Dec 1972

Mission clock updated (002:40:00 added).

065:00

22:33

09 Dec 1972

Apollo light flash phenomenon experiment started.

065:39

23:12

09 Dec 1972

Apollo light flash phenomenon experiment ended.

066:39

00:12

10 Dec 1972

Equigravisphere.

070:37:45

04:10:45

10 Dec 1972

Scientific instrument module door jettisoned.

081:32:40

15:05:40

10 Dec 1972

Inflight science phase of mission initiated with turn-on of Far Ultraviolet Spectrometer.

083:26

16:59

10 Dec 1972

Ultraviolet photography of dark Moon.

084:50

18:23

10 Dec 1972

Lunar orbit insertion ignition (SPS).

086:14:22.60

19:47:22

10 Dec 1972

Lunar orbit insertion cutoff.

086:20:55.76

19:53:55

10 Dec 1972

S-IVB impact on lunar surface.

086:59:42.3

20:32:42

10 Dec 1972

Terminator photography.

087:05

20:38

10 Dec 1972

Orbital science visual observations.

087:15

20:48

10 Dec 1972

Orbital science photography.

088:00

21:33

10 Dec 1972

1st descent orbit insertion ignition (SPS).

090:31:37.43

00:04:37

11 Dec 1972

1st descent orbit insertion cutoff.

090:31:59.70

00:04:59

11 Dec 1972

Landmark observations.

090:50

00:23

11 Dec 1972

CDR and LMP entered LM.

105:02

14:35

11 Dec 1972

CSM/LM separation maneuver initiated (RCS).

107:47:56

17:20:56

11 Dec 1972

CSM/LM separation maneuver cutoff.

107:47:59.4

17:20:59

11 Dec 1972

CSM orbit circularization ignition (SPS).

109:17:28.92

18:50:28

11 Dec 1972

CSM orbit circularization cutoff.

109:17:32.72

18:50:32

11 Dec 1972

2nd descent orbit insertion ignition (LM RCS).

109:22:42

18:55:42

11 Dec 1972

2nd descent orbit insertion cutoff.

109:23:03.5

18:56:03

11 Dec 1972

CSM landmark tracking started.

109:40

19:13

11 Dec 1972

LM powered descent engine ignition (DPS).

110:09:53

19:42:53

11 Dec 1972

LM throttle to full-throttle position.

110:10:21

19:43:21

11 Dec 1972

LM manual target (landing site) update.

110:11:25

19:44:25

11 Dec 1972

LM landing radar velocity data good.

110:13:28

19:46:28

11 Dec 1972

LM landing radar range data good.

110:14:06

19:47:06

11 Dec 1972

LM landing radar updates enabled.

110:14:32

19:47:32

11 Dec 1972

LM throttle down.

110:17:19

19:50:19

11 Dec 1972

LM approach phase program selected.

110:19:15

19:52:15

11 Dec 1972

LM landing radar antenna to position 2.

110:19:16

19:52:16

11 Dec 1972

LM 1st landing point redesignation.

110:19:26

19:52:26

11 Dec 1972

LM landing radar switched to low scale.

110:19:54

19:52:54

11 Dec 1972

LM landing phase program selected.

110:20:51

19:53:51

11 Dec 1972

LM lunar landing and powered descent engine cutoff.

110:21:58

19:54:58

11 Dec 1972

CSM landmark tracking ended.

111:20

20:53

11 Dec 1972

1st EVA started (LM cabin depressurized).

114:21:49

23:54:49

11 Dec 1972

CSM orbital science visual observations.

114:45

00:18

12 Dec 1972

Lunar roving vehicle (LRV) offloaded.

114:51:10

00:24:10

12 Dec 1972

LRV deployed, test drive performed and documented with photography, gathered samples

   and performed 500 mm and panoramic photography.

 

115:13:50

 

00:46:50

 

12 Dec 1972

CSM orbital science photography.

115:15

00:48

12 Dec 1972

United States flag deployed and documented with photographs and stereo photography.

115:40:58

01:13:58

12 Dec 1972

Traverse gravimeter experiment reading obtained.

115:50:51

01:23:51

12 Dec 1972

Cosmic ray experiment deployed.

115:54:40

01:27:40

12 Dec 1972

Apollo lunar surface experiment (ALSEP) package offloaded.

115:58:30

01:31:30

12 Dec 1972

Traverse gravimeter experiment reading obtained.

116:06:01

01:39:01

12 Dec 1972

Traverse gravimeter experiment reading obtained.

116:11:54

01:44:54

12 Dec 1972

Traverse gravimeter experiment reading obtained.

116:46:17

02:19:17

12 Dec 1972

CSM orbital science photography.

117:10

02:43

12 Dec 1972

1st ALSEP data received on Earth.

117:21:00

02:54

12 Dec 1972

Heat flow experiment turned on.

117:29

03:02

12 Dec 1972

ALSEP deployment completed and documented with photographs and panoramic

   photography.

 

118:07:43

 

03:40:43

 

12 Dec 1972

CSM terminator photography.

118:10

03:43

12 Dec 1972

Lunar seismic profiling experiment (S-203) turned on. CSM Earthshine photography

   started.

 

118:25

 

03:58

 

12 Dec 1972

Deep core sample obtained and lunar neutron probe experiment deployed.

118:35:27

04:08:27

12 Dec 1972