Editing Apollo 17 (section)

=== Lunar landing ===
[[File:AS17-147-22465 (21678759595).jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The valley of [[Taurus-Littrow]] as seen from the [[Apollo Lunar Module|Lunar Module]] ''Challenger'' on the orbit before powered descent there. The [[Apollo command and service module|Command and Service Module]] ''America'' can just be seen crossing the base of the 2.3 km high South Massif. Between the South and North Massifs, the valley is 7 km wide. [[Mare Serenitatis]], the Sea of Serenity, is on the horizon.]]
The day of the landing began with a checkout of the Lunar Module's systems, which revealed no problems preventing continuation of the mission. Cernan, Evans, and Schmitt each donned their spacesuits, and Cernan and Schmitt entered the LM in preparation for separating from the CSM and landing. The LM undocked from the CSM, and the two spacecraft orbited close together for about an hour and a half while the astronauts made visual inspections and conducted their final pre-landing checks.<ref name="a17pre"/> After finally separating from the CSM, the LM ''Challenger'' and its crew of two adjusted their orbit, such that its lowest point would pass about {{convert|10.5|mi|km|abbr=on}} above the landing site, and began preparations for the descent to Taurus–Littrow. While Cernan and Schmitt prepared for landing, Evans remained in orbit to take observations, perform experiments and await the return of his crewmates a few days later.<ref name=astronautix/><ref name="a17pre"/><ref name=alsjland>{{cite web|title=Landing at Taurus-Littrow|url=http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a17/a17.landing.html|publisher=NASA|editor-first=Eric M.|editor-last=Jones|editor2-first=Ken|editor2-last=Glover|work=Apollo 17 Lunar Surface Journal|access-date=August 22, 2011|archive-date=September 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907123428/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a17/a17.landing.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Soon after completing their preparations for landing and just over two hours following the LM's undocking from the CSM, Cernan and Schmitt began their descent to the Taurus–Littrow valley on the lunar surface with the ignition of the Lunar Module's descent propulsion system (DPS) engine.<ref name=alsjland/>{{sfn|Orloff & Harland 2006|p=519}} Approximately ten minutes later, as planned, the LM pitched over, giving Cernan and Schmitt their first look at the landing site during the descent phase and allowing Cernan to guide the spacecraft to a desirable landing target while Schmitt provided data from the flight computer essential for landing. The LM touched down on the lunar surface at 2:55&nbsp;p.m. EST on December 11, just over twelve minutes after DPS ignition.{{sfn|Orloff & Harland 2006|p=519}} ''Challenger'' landed about {{convert|656|ft}} east of the planned landing point.{{sfn|Orloff & Harland 2006|p=515}} Shortly thereafter, the two astronauts began re-configuring the LM for their stay on the surface and began preparations for the first moonwalk of the mission, or EVA-1.<ref name=astronautix/><ref name=alsjland/>