As I step off at the surface at Taurus-Littrow, I'd like to dedicate the first step of Apollo 17 to all those who made it possible.
Gene CernanWe don't have the capability today to put a human being in space of any kind, shape or form, which is absolutely, totally unacceptable when we got the greatest flying machine in the world sitting down at Kennedy in a garage there with nothing to do.
Gene CernanOnce I finally stepped on the moon, no matter what was to come of the next three days - or the rest of my life - nobody could take those steps from me. People ask how long will they be there, and I say forever, however long forever is, like my daughterโs initials that I scribbled in the sand [TDC for Tracy Dawn Cernan].
Gene CernanGet the shuttle out of the garage. It's in its prime of its life. How could we just put it away?
Gene Cernan