Editing Apollo 17 (section)

===Orbital science===

==== Biological experiments ====
{{Main|Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum, and Phooey}}

Apollo 17's CM carried a biological cosmic ray experiment (BIOCORE), containing five mice that had been implanted with radiation monitors under their scalps to see whether they suffered damage from cosmic rays. These animals were placed in individual metal tubes inside a sealed container that had its own oxygen supply, and flown on the mission. All five were pocket mice (''[[Perognathus longimembris]]'');{{sfn|Johnson et al. 1975|loc=Ch. 4}} this species was chosen because it was well-documented, small, easy to maintain in an isolated state (not requiring drinking water during the mission and with highly concentrated waste), and for its ability to withstand environmental stress.{{sfn|Apollo 17 Preliminary Science Report|pp=26-1–26-14}} Officially, the mice—four male and one female—were assigned the identification numbers A3326, A3400, A3305, A3356 and A3352. Unofficially, according to Cernan, the Apollo 17 crew dubbed them Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum, and Phooey.{{sfn|Burgess & Dubbs 2007|p=320}}

Four of the five mice survived the flight, though only two of them appeared healthy and active; the cause of death of the fifth mouse was not determined. Of those that survived, the study found [[lesion]]s in the scalp itself and, in one case, the liver. The scalp lesions and liver lesions appeared to be unrelated to one another; nothing was found that could be attributed to cosmic rays.{{sfn|Johnson et al. 1975|loc=Part IV, Ch. 4}}

The Biostack experiment was similar to one carried on Apollo 16, and was designed to test the effects of the cosmic rays encountered in space travel on microorganisms that were included, on seeds, and on the eggs of simple animals ([[brine shrimp]] and beetles), which were carried in a sealed container. After the mission, the microorganisms and seeds showed little effect, but many of the eggs of all species failed to hatch, or to mature normally; many died or displayed abnormalities.{{sfn|Johnson et al. 1975|loc=Part IV, Ch. 1}}

==== Scientific Instrument Module ====
[[File:Apollo 17 CSM SIM bay.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|right|Apollo 17 SIM bay on the service module ''America'', seen from the Lunar Module ''Challenger'' in orbit around the Moon]]

The Apollo 17 SM contained the scientific instrument module (SIM) bay. The SIM bay housed three new experiments for use in lunar orbit: a lunar sounder, an [[infrared]] scanning [[radiometer]], and a [[Ultraviolet|far-ultraviolet]] spectrometer. A mapping camera, panoramic camera, and a [[Lidar|laser altimeter]], which had been carried previously, were also included in the SIM bay.<ref name ="science">{{cite web |title=Apollo 17 – Lunar Science |url=https://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/topics/apollo/apollo-program/landing-missions/apollo17-science.cfm |website=The Apollo Program |publisher=National Air and Space Museum |access-date=February 8, 2022 |archive-date=February 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208021215/https://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/topics/apollo/apollo-program/landing-missions/apollo17-science.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The lunar sounder was to beam [[Electromagnetic radiation|electromagnetic]] impulses toward the lunar surface, which were designed with the objective of obtaining data to assist in developing a geological model of the interior of the Moon to an approximate depth of {{convert|1.3|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref name="science"/> The infrared scanning radiometer was designed with the objective of generating a temperature map of the lunar surface to aid in locating surface features such as rock fields, structural differences in the [[Internal structure of the Moon|lunar crust]], and volcanic activity. The far-ultraviolet spectrometer was to be used to obtain information on the composition, density, and constituency of the [[Atmosphere of the Moon|lunar atmosphere]]. The spectrometer was also designed to detect far-UV radiation emitted by the Sun that had been reflected off the lunar surface. The laser altimeter was designed to measure the altitude of the spacecraft above the lunar surface within approximately {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}, providing altitude information to the panoramic and mapping cameras, which were also in the SIM bay.<ref name="science"/>{{sfn|Apollo 17 Press Kit|pp=56–59}}

==== Light-flash phenomenon and other experiments ====
{{main|Cosmic ray visual phenomena}}

Beginning with Apollo 11, crew members observed light flashes that penetrated their closed eyelids. These flashes, described by the astronauts as "streaks" or "specks" of light, were usually observed while the spacecraft was darkened during a sleep period. These flashes, while not observed on the lunar surface, would average about two per minute and were observed by the crew members during the trip out to the Moon, back to Earth, and in lunar orbit.<ref name="lightflash"/>

The Apollo 17 crew repeated an experiment, also conducted on Apollo 16, with the objective of linking these light flashes with [[cosmic ray]]s. Evans wore a device over his eyes that recorded the time, strength, and path of high-energy atomic particles that penetrated the device, while the other two wore blindfolds to keep out light. Investigators concluded that the available evidence supports the hypothesis that these flashes occur when charged particles travel through the [[retina]] in the eye.<ref name=lightflash>{{cite book |last1=Osborne |first1=W. Zachary |last2=Pinsky |first2=Lawrence S. |last3=Bailey |first3=J. Vernon |editor-last1=Johnston |editor-first1=Richard S. |editor-last2=Dietlein |editor-first2=Lawrence F. |editor-last3=Berry |editor-first3=Charles A. |others=Foreword by [[Christopher C. Kraft Jr.]] |title=Biomedical Results of Apollo |url=http://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/books/apollo/cover.htm |access-date=August 26, 2011 |year=1975 |publisher=NASA |location=Washington, D.C. |id=NASA SP-368 |chapter=Apollo Light Flash Investigations |chapter-url=http://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/books/apollo/S4CH2.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917234433/http://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/books/apollo/cover.htm |archive-date=September 17, 2011 }}</ref>

Apollo 17 carried a sodium-iodide crystal identical to the ones in the gamma-ray spectrometer flown on Apollo 15 and 16. Data from this, once it was examined on Earth, was to be used to help form a baseline, allowing for subtraction of rays from the CM or from [[cosmic radiation]] to gain better data from the earlier results.{{sfn|Apollo 17 Preliminary Science Report|pp=20-1–20-2}} In addition, the S-band transponders in the CSM and LM were pointed at the Moon to gain data on its gravitational field. Results from the [[Lunar Orbiter]] probes had revealed that lunar gravity varies slightly due to the presence of [[Mass concentration (astronomy)|mass concentrations]], or "mascons". Data from the missions, and from the lunar subsatellites [[Apollo 15#Particles and Fields Subsatellite|left by Apollo 15]] and [[Apollo 16#Particles and Fields Subsatellite|16]], were used to map such variations in lunar gravity.{{sfn|Apollo 17 Preliminary Science Report|pp=14-1—14-2}}<ref name ="band:">{{cite web|publisher=[[Lunar and Planetary Institute]]|work=Apollo 17 Mission|title=Science Experiments – S-Band Transponder|date=2019|access-date=February 12, 2022|url=https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_17/experiments/s_band/|archive-date=August 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805010805/https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_17/experiments/s_band/|url-status=live}}</ref>