Apollo 17 Rocket Passes Its Final Test for Countdown

Nov. 21, 1972

Credit...The New York Times Archives

See the article in its original context from
November 21, 1972, Page 38Buy Reprints

TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers.

About the Archive

This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them.

Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions.

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla., Nov. 20 (UPI)—The fully fueled Apollo 17 rocket passed an important countdown test to night for America's last plan ned mission to the moon Dec. 6.

The 363‐foot space ma chine cruised smoothly through a long, realistic countdown rehearsal and blastoff was simulated at 9:53 P.M., the time that Capt. Eugene A. Cernan, Lieut. Comdr. Ronald E. Evans and Dr. Harrison H. Schmitt are to be launched.

“Everything looked in real good shape,” reported the launching director, Walter Kapryan. “We're ready to go.”

The countdown trial was the final big test before the start of the countdown on Nov. 30.

The three astronauts skipped today's exercise be cause of the risks involved with a Saturn 5 rocket load ed with more than 1 million gallons of liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen and kerosene.

The men planned to par ticipate in an abbreviated dry run tomorrow night after the oxygen and hydrogen are drained. They will wear pres sure suits and simulate launching from the command module.

The three Apollo crewmen had preliminary medical checks today and the doctors reported that they were in good shape. The men will undergo their final major physical examinations Dec. 1.

The countdown test began last Wednesday and has pro ceeded smoothly with only a few minor problems, which were quickly corrected.

SKIP ADVERTISEMENT