The Last Man On The Moon
Eugene Cernan
Apollo 17
Apollo 17
A NASA Apollo Pepsi GMT-Master Mystery Evolves
Discovering new revelations in Rolex history is always exciting, especially when it involves NASA Apollo Astronauts wearing Rolex!!! Apollo 17 Mission Commander Eugene A. Cernan is pictured below in his official NASA Apollo 17 portrait. Eugene Cernan flew in the Gemini IX mission as well as on Apollo 10 and as part of Apollo 17 would be the last man to walk on the Moon.
Eleven years ago I published the mysterious photo below of Eugene Cernan rocking a Rolex GMT-Master on the outside of his Space Suit on a velcro strap. This photo just added to the Rolex Moon Watch Mystery because the obvious question was, if Omega was "the official watch" of NASA then what is an Apollo astronaut doing wearing a Rolex on the outside of his spacesuit!?!
New photographic evidence just came in from Moon Watch Universe that shows Apollo 17 Commander Eugene Cernan conducting lunar EVA training wearing David Scott's Moon Flown Apollo A7lB spacesuit while sporting a Pepsi GMT-Master wristwatch taped on his left strap with yellow tape!?!!
Moon Watch Universe is gathering information in order to complete this exquisite story Rolex GMT-Master pilot's watch used during lunar surface EVA training at the Cape by the Commander of the last Apollo crew taken on June 8, 1972.
Each EVA training was broken down in specific sessions simulating actual planned lunar surface operations.
This next NASA photo [5-72-39922] shows Eugene Cernan of Apollo 17 inspecting rocks during a geology field trip and notice he is wearing his Pepsi GMT.
The Saturn Rocket that would take the Apollo 17 prime crew to the moon is pictured below on its launch pad.
Apollo 17 was the first mission to be launched at night.
Harrison Schmitt took the photo below on December 13, 1972 of Apollo 17 Astronaut and Mission Commander Eugene A. Cernan as he salutes the deployed United States flag on the lunar surface during Extravehicular Activity (EVA).
Eugene Cernan's last words as he left the Moon were:
"As I take man's last step from the surface, back home for some time to come–but we believe not too long into the future–I'd like to just [say] what I believe history will record–that America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow. And, as we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind. Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17."
A plaque left on the ladder of the descent stage of Challenger reads:
"Here Man completed his first explorations of the moon. December 1972 AD. May the spirit of peace in which we came be reflected in the lives of all mankind."
The Apollo 17 capsule splashed down on December 19, 1972 and the U.S. Navy SH-3A Sea King helicopter combat support squadron HC-1 Pacific Fleet Angels were sent from the deck of the USS Ticonderoga (CVS-14) to recover the Astronauts as pictured below.
The image above shows Apollo 17s Eugene Cernan exiting his spacecraft just after splashdown and if we look closely is sure does appear he is wearing his Pepsi GMT on his wrist as evidenced below in the close up where we see what appears to be his Rolex Oyster Bracelet!!!
Update: Moon Watch Universe wrote in and said:
Lower photo shows Eugene Cernan exciting the "America" capsule wearing his NASA-issued Speedmaster on a black velcro strap together with his Speedmaster 105.003 that he always wore since the Gemini days...
This older Speedmaster was his lucky charm and he always wore it on the inside of his wrist, this Speedmaster was on a steel mesh Jacoby Bender Champion bracelet... so that's not a ROLEX bracelet at all!!!
CMP Ron Evans took a ROLEX GMT aboard Apollo 17 and although he stayed in lunar orbit, he asked Cernan to take his Personal Preference Kit containing the Rolex aboard Lunar Lander "Challenger" down to the lunar surface...