December 1972 - December 7, 1972 (Thursday)

December 7, 1972 (Thursday)

• Apollo 17 was launched from Cape Kennedy at 12:33 a.m. EST after a delay of nearly three hours. Carrying astronauts Gene Cernan, Ronald Evans, and Harrison Schmitt, the mission was the last manned trip to the Moon. With an orbital trajectory that permitted a fully illuminated view of the entire planet, the crew snapped a famous image of the globe, colloquially called "The Blue Marble" File:The Earth seen from Apollo 17.jpg After three hours, rockets were fired and the three astronauts of Apollo 17 became the last persons to go beyond the orbit of the Earth.
• Imelda Marcos, First Lady of the Philippines, was slashed repeatedly by a bolo knife wielding assassin, who attacked her at an awards ceremony at the Nayong Pilipino theme park in Pasay City. Mrs. Marcos required 75 stitches.
• Born: Hermann Maier, Austrian skier, in Altenmarkt im Pongau