# Challenger

> lunar module used during Apollo 17

**Wikidata**: [Q28101399](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28101399)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/challenger-q28101399

## Summary
Challenger (designated LM-12) was the lunar module used during the Apollo 17 mission, operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Manufactured by Grumman, it carried the Apollo 17 crew to the surface of the Moon and was later jettisoned in lunar orbit. Its call sign was derived from the word "challenge."

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Apollo Lunar Module (Serial Number: LM-12).
*   **Mission:** Part of Apollo 17.
*   **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
*   **Manufacturer:** Grumman.
*   **Launch Date:** December 7, 1972, at 05:33:00 UTC.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Saturn V (SA-512).
*   **Lunar Landing:** December 11, 1972, at 19:54:57 UTC.
*   **Landing Location:** Taurus–Littrow (Coordinates: 20.1911°N, 30.7723°E).
*   **Mass:** 16,448.17 kg (Launch Weight); 4,936.9 kg (Dry Weight).
*   **Height:** 6.985 metres.
*   **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 1972-096C; NSSDCA ID 1972-096C.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the Challenger lunar module?
A: Challenger was the call sign for the Lunar Module (LM-12) used during the Apollo 17 mission. It was the vehicle responsible for descending to the lunar surface and ascending back to the command module.

### Q: When and where did Challenger land on the Moon?
A: Challenger landed on December 11, 1972, at 19:54:57 UTC in the Taurus–Littrow valley located on the Moon.

### Q: What happened to the Challenger module after the mission?
A: After the crew returned to the command module, Challenger was jettisoned in lunar orbit on December 15, 1972, at 04:51:31 UTC.

## Why It Matters
Challenger holds a distinct place in aerospace history as the lunar module for Apollo 17. As the last of the Apollo Lunar Modules to carry a human crew, it facilitated the final human exploration of the Moon's surface in the 20th century. The module successfully transported its crew to the Taurus–Littrow valley, allowing for the deployment of the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP) and extensive geological survey work.

The vehicle demonstrated the reliability of the Grumman-manufactured lunar module design, operating from its launch on December 7, 1972, through its final ascent from the Moon on December 14, 1972. Its destruction via jettison in lunar orbit marked the end of the operational lifecycle for the Apollo lunar landers.

## Notable For
*   Being the Lunar Module (LM-12) for the Apollo 17 mission.
*   Landing in the Taurus–Littrow valley on the Moon.
*   Carrying the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP).
*   Having a launch weight of 16,448.17 kg.
*   Being named after the concept of a "challenge."

## Body
### Design and Specifications
Challenger was an Apollo Lunar Module manufactured by Grumman, identified by the serial number LM-12. Structurally, it stood 6.985 metres tall. At launch, the vehicle had a total mass of 16,448.17 kilograms, with a dry weight of 4,936.9 kilograms. The module was powered by a Saturn V launch vehicle (specifically the SA-512 stage) and was operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

### Mission Timeline
Challenger's operational history began with its launch from the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A on December 7, 1972, at 05:33:00 UTC.
*   **Moon Landing:** The module achieved a landing on the Moon on December 11, 1972, at 19:54:57 UTC.
*   **Ascent:** Following surface operations, the ascent stage launched from the Moon on December 14, 1972, at 22:54:37 UTC.
*   **Jettison:** The module was ultimately jettisoned in lunar orbit on December 15, 1972, at 04:51:31 UTC.

### Location and Equipment
The module touched down in the Taurus–Littrow region, situated within the lunar quadrant LQ12. The specific landing coordinates were recorded as latitude 20.1911 and longitude 30.7723. During its stay on the lunar surface, Challenger served as the base for the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP). The module connected with the Apollo 17 lunar plaque and was formally named "Challenger" as a reference to the word "challenge."

## References

1. [Source](https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4029/Apollo_18-17_Call_Signs.htm)
2. Apollo: The Definitive Sourcebook
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1972-096C)
5. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/lunar_sites.html)
6. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apolloland.html)
7. Apollo by the Numbers: A Statistical Reference