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Preparations for EVA-2 Camelot to Station 2

 

Outbound to Camelot

Corrected Transcript and Commentary Copyright © 1995 by Eric M. Jones.
All rights reserved.
Scan credits in the Image Library.
Video credits in the Video Library.
Except where noted, audio clips by Dave Shaffer.
Last revised 4 August 2017.

 

[They are now on Surface 4-7 and will start the final depressurization.]
MP3 Audio Clip starting at 140:34:48 ( 20 min 49 sec )

RealAudio Clip ( 7 min 06 sec )

140:35:01 Schmitt: Okay. Overhead (or) Forward Dump valve, Open.

140:35:04 Cernan: (Straining) Okay, baby! It's open all the way.

[Cernan - "I'm really stretching to reach back up to get the valve because now the suits are even harder than they were when I first opened the valve."]

[The Overhead Dump valve is behind (aft) and slightly to the left of the hatch handle ( 652 ) in a photo taken of the LM Simulator displayed at the Cradle of Aviation Museum.]

[By definition, this valve opening after the suit integrity check is the start of the EVA.]

140:35:07 Schmitt: Okay, and pressure's coming down.

140:35:10 Cernan: Okay. I believe it.

140:35:11 Schmitt: We get a tone and an H2O flag. (Audible pop) You just popped your (suit) Relief (valve), I think.

140:35:13 Cernan: Yeah, I'm at my relief pressure now. (Pause)

[Once the cabin pressure gets low enough, sensors in the PLSSs will take note of the fact that the sublimators are still off and will generate warning tones and will show H2O flags on the RCUs. In addition, the pressure difference between Gene's suit and the cabin has gotten high enough that his pressure relief valve has opened.]
140:35:29 Cernan: What's Cabin (pressure) now?

140:35:31 Schmitt: Cabin is one point two (psi). (Pause) One (psi). (Pause)

140:35:50 Cernan: Well, let's see if I can partially get this (forward) hatch open.

140:35:52 Schmitt: It's point seven (0.7 psi cabin pressure) still.

140:35:53 Cernan: Okay. (Pause)

140:36:00 Schmitt: Point five. (Long Pause)

140:36:15 Schmitt: Point three. You got it (open) at what...About point two yesterday?

140:36:21 Cernan: Why don't you move over as far to the right as you can...

140:36:21 Schmitt: Okay.

140:36:22 Cernan: ...so I can bend down (to reach the handle on the forward hatch).

["Lean" would be more accurate than "bend".]
140:36:25 Schmitt: Well, I think that's as good as I can do.

140:36:26 Cernan: Okay. That's good. I can reach it. No; too much pressure on it yet.

140:36:34 Schmitt: Okay. About point three. (Long Pause)

140:36:52 Schmitt: Okay. There's my H2O flag.

[The cabin pressure has dropped low enough for sublimator operation and the flag is telling Jack that there is no feedwater flow into the sublimator. The flag is, therefore, telling Jack three things: that he has no feedwater flow, that the cabin pressure is quite low, and that the PLSS warning system is working.]
140:36:55 Cernan: Well, in that case, let me see if I can't get this. Oh, man!

140:37:00 Schmitt: Get it opened?

140:37:01 Cernan: No.

140:37:03 Schmitt: It's unlocked, isn't it?

140:37:05 Cernan: Yeah, I unlocked it earlier.

140:37:09 Schmitt: Still point two. (Pause)

140:37:14 Cernan: Yeah, it's unlocked. (Long Pause) Here it comes.

140:37:34 Schmitt: There goes all the junk out there again. Guess that's ice.

[Cernan - "This was one of the reasons that it was a good idea not to leave things lying around in the cabin. Once the pressure got down low enough - 0.1 or 0.2 psi - you could lean down and use the handle to open the hatch. Then the rest of the air rushed out and anything lying around just zapped out the hatch with it."]
140:37:41 Cernan: Okay.

140:37:43 Schmitt: Probably cleaned some of the dust out, I hope.

[Schmitt - "Anything that wasn't tied down flew out. I don't remember any of the dust going out; it was down below the floor so it was a little harder for it to flow out."]
140:37:45 Cernan: Yeah, there goes a lot of junk. Sure wish it would clean the dust out. But it isn't. It's cleaning everything else out.
[Cernan - "The floor we stood on wasn't the pressure hull of the spacecraft but, rather, was a fitted floor made up of panels with cracks between them The dust got down in there and it was impossible to clean it out."]
140:37:51 Schmitt: Okay, Geno. We turn our PLSS (sublimator) water on.

140:37:53 Cernan: Okay.

140:37:54 Schmitt: If we can get to it. (Pause) (That) feels like a water valve.

140:38:09 Cernan: Okay. Mine's on.

140:38:11 Schmitt: LMP's water's on.

140:38:15 Cernan: Okay. (Pause) Okay? (Pause)

140:38:21 Schmitt: Open...

140:38:23 Cernan: We're right there.

140:38:25 Schmitt: What?

140:38:26 Cernan: My water flag is clear!

140:38:31 Schmitt: That just means you've got feedwater pressure.

140:38:33 Cernan: Okay. (Reading) "Open hatch. Rest until cooling sufficient; verify PGA 3.7 - 4.6." Now mine's coming through 4.8; let me stand there a second.

[Cernan - "It took the suit regulator a while to get itself down to 3.85 psi and, until then, you were working with an extra stiff suit and there wasn't much point in trying to get down on your knees to get out."]
140:38:42 Cernan: "CWEA status, PREAMPS and ECS."

140:38:44 Schmitt: Rog.

[The warning lights are telling them that the ECS is off and that the cabin is depressurized. This is primarily a confirmation that the warning system is functioning.]
140:38:45 Cernan: (Is the) Water Sep Component Light on?

140:38:47 Schmitt: Rog.

140:38:48 Cernan: Okay.

140:38:49 Schmitt: I mean "affirm". Get my terminology straight here.

[Schmitt - "The actual meaning of 'Roger' is 'Understood', but it tends to be used as a substitute for 'Affirmative'; most of the pilots tended to use 'Roger' wrong and this was just me, trying to get it right."]
140:38:52 Cernan: Okay, Jack. I'm going to start doing about a 90 here.
[Gene will turn ninety degrees so that he can get his feet through the hatch.]
140:39:01 Schmitt: Okay. Let me...I need to turn around (and face inboard) as soon as you do so I can help you get under that (DSKY housing). (Pause) That's better.

140:39:24 Cernan: Okay; it knocked it off. Okay. I'm out of the way now, if you can move your left leg.

[Jack needs to get as far to the right side of the spacecraft as possible so that Gene can open the hatch with Jack standing behind it.]
140:39:31 Cernan: Okay. I got an O2 Flag. And it's cleared. The pressure is 4.6. (Pause) Okay, Houston. If you're happy, CDR is going to get out.

140:39:47 Parker: Roger. We're happy, Geno.

140:39:52 Cernan: Okay.

140:39:56 Schmitt: (Sub vocal) Okay, I'm going to get back out of your way. (Pause) Okay. Hatch is full open.

140:40:06 Cernan: Okay.

[Jack means that the hatch is open against his legs as far as it will go.]
140:40:09 Schmitt: And you're still...Your scraping your (PLSS)...just a little bit. Just get your buttons down there. That's good. Okay. Oh, hey, remind me to fix your...

140:40:34 Cernan: PLSS straps.

140:40:34 Schmitt: ...your donning straps.

[At 40:09, Jack's "get your buttons down" is another reference to the Bill Mauldin cartoon discussed at 123:58:20.]
140:40:37 Cernan: Okay. (Pause) That is ice, by the way, Jack. (Pause)
[The cabin air cools rapidly as it escapes through the open hatch and some of the moisture condenses on the hatch opening and other surfaces. This ice will soon sublimate.]
140:40:50 Cernan: Oh, man! I tell you, with a stiff suit...I'm still at 4.5 (psi). But, I am out here on the porch.

140:40:56 Schmitt: Okay.

140:40:57 Cernan: Oh, man. Okay, I'm out here.

140:41:00 Schmitt: (Reading cuff checklist page LMP-4) I've assisted you. (Pause) Here comes the jett(ison) bag whenever you're ready.

140:41:03 Cernan: Well, let me get...Okay. I'm all set. Man, I wish this suit would come down to 3.8. Here it comes. Okay, any time. (Pause) Give it (the jett bag) a swat; there you go.

[Once Gene gets out on the porch, Jack can swing the hatch partially closed, move to the other side of the cabin, and then swing the hatch fully open. He has just put the jettison bag in the hatch opening and pushes it farther out with his boot.]
140:41:30 Schmitt: Oh, the beauty of (garbled)...

140:41:33 Cernan: Okay; let me look at something here. (Pause; Gene chuckles as he looks in his checklist, probably looking at the abbreviation list)

[Schmitt - "There was probably some kind of humorous picture that the support crew had inserted into the checklist at this point. Heaven knows what it was. I don't know where those checklists went. But the support crew kept sticking things in there, particularly Bob Parker. At the end of every section we could count on finding 'This is the end and not the beginning', because Gene had come up with a slogan for our mission 'This is the beginning and not the end' and Bob turned it around every chance he had. The typical weird humor of the Caltech graduate."]
140:41:42 Schmitt: What's that?

140:41:44 Cernan: I was just turning my checklist pages.

140:41:46 Schmitt: Oh. Here you go.

140:41:48 Cernan: Okay. (Reading CDR-4) Jett bag. I need...What you got next; ETB?

140:41:51 Schmitt: ETB.

140:41:52 Cernan: Okay.

140:41:53 Schmitt: Can you reach it?

140:41:54 Cernan: Yeah. (Now, I'll) get it hooked up here. (Pause)

[Gene is attaching the Equipment Transfer Bag (ETB) to the lanyard - called the LEC or Lunar Equipment Conveyor - with which he will lower the ETB to the surface, in part to protect the cameras in the bag and, in part, to free Gene's hands as he goes down the ladder.]

[Schmitt - "It was a lot easier using two hands going down the ladder. It wouldn't have hurt if you fell; or, I don't think it would have except it might have damaged the PLSS."]

140:42:00 Schmitt: Okay. Turn the tape recorder off (as per LMP-4). (Pause) Tape recorder's off.
[They will turn the tape recorder back on at about 163:03 during EVA-3 preparations.]
140:42:13 Cernan: Big hook. That's a legacy of Gemini IX.
[Cernan - "This was probably a hook on the lanyard that I was hooking onto the ETB or that I was using to attach the lanyard to the ladder. We learned on Gemini IX that, with the pressurized gloves and the lack of dexterity, we needed big things that we could get a hold on, not little things that you had to open with your finger tips. We learned a lot in the early days about the kind of equipment you needed to work with in the pressurized suits."]
140:42:17 Schmitt: (Reading LMP-4) "Max (sensitivity on the comm circuit). (Pause) EVA decals." (Long Pause)
[Jack is making a final check of the circuit breakers and switches.]
RealAudio Clip ( 6 min 47 sec )

140:42:44 Cernan: ETB is hanging. (Is) that all I need?

140:42:50 Schmitt: I think so. You hit your comm again.

140:42:56 Cernan: No, I didn't; I'm okay.

140:42:57 Schmitt: What happened to the static? Did we lose Houston?

140:42:59 Parker: We read you loud and clear.

140:43:02 Schmitt: Hello, Houston. (Hearing Bob) Oh, you must have switched to...Oh, I don't know.

140:43:08 Cernan: Okay. I'm going down the ladder.

140:43:10 Schmitt: All of a sudden, all the noise is gone; that's very good. (Pause)

140:43:21 Cernan: "Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17." I think I'll read that every time I come down the ladder.

140:43:28 Schmitt: Okay. All the circuit breakers are verified. Noise is back.

140:43:34 Cernan: Okay. My visor's coming down.

140:43:37 Schmitt: Utility lights are off. We're not going to use the (16 mm) camera. (Pause)

[Here, Jack is referring to the sequence camera, which is mounted in his window primarily for taking one-frame-per-second movies of landing and take-off.]
140:43:43 Schmitt: Okay, I get to get out (as per LMP-4).

140:43:47 Cernan: Okay, Houston. On this fine Tuesday evening, as I step out on the plains of Taurus-Littrow, Apollo 17 is ready to go to work.

140:44:02 Parker: Roger, Geno. Good deal.

140:44:08 Cernan: (Refering to CDR-4) And the first thing I'll do is give you a TGE (Traverse Gravimeter reading). Let me turn it on. And you want a reading. Okay. It's on. Bob, and the reading is 222, 262, 207; that's 222, 262, 207.

[The gravimeter is on the ground, in the shade of the LM, near the ladder. Gene had made a reading just before climbing the ladder at the end of EVA-1, and then put the instrument in the Standby mode. This reading is an instrument check.]
140:44:36 Parker: Roger. We copy that, Gene.

140:44:44 Cernan: Looks good from here, Jack. Keep coming.

[Jack is getting out of the LM.]
140:44:50 Schmitt: Come on, hatch!

140:44:53 Cernan: Oh, what a nice day. (Somebody burps)

140:44:57 Schmitt: (Both laughing) Funny, there's not a cloud in the sky. Except in the Earth.

140:45:02 Cernan: (To himself) Take it nice and easy today and get accustomed. Whee!

140:45:08 Schmitt: (Probably on the porch and closing the hatch) Okay.

[Schmitt - "Getting out the second day was actually more exciting for me than the first was because it looked like we were actually going to have a chance to do something useful (laughing) rather than just deploy the ALSEP. I don't think getting out was an 'adrenaline pumping' type of excitement because your checklist kept you organized and moving from one thing to another. I think the real adrenaline was Launch, Translunar Injection, Lunar Orbit Insertion, Powered Descent Initiation, Landing, Lift-off from the Moon, and Trans-Earth Injection. Although, again, it's amazing how training and procedures suppress those kinds of things because everybody has things they have to do; and so you have to keep doing them. If you got into an adrenaline high you'd increase the chance of missing a step. Training is a great suppressor of adrenaline. It's like being prepared to take an exam in college. The more prepared you are, the less exciting it is."]

[Cernan - "I don't know that the adrenaline wasn't pumping the first time we got out on the surface. The second time I was a little more calm and collected, but there was still the realization that I was back out on the surface and that the first time around wasn't just a figment of my imagination. I agree with Jack that where the heart really started pounding and beating wasn't when you were crawling down the ladder. It was things like the landing. It wasn't like you were crawling down the ladder into a pit full of rattlesnakes. You were crawling down the ladder to do something you were looking forward to, something you knew you were going to enjoy, something that, within reason, you had control over. It wasn't one of those heart-pounding things, but it was still a little unbelievable that I was really there. The first day was almost literally like walking in a dream the whole time; the second day, you could look around and begin to appreciate a little more where you were and prepare to be a little more productive. Everything on the first EVA had been checkout, checkout, checkout, checkout. This time we had the Lunar Rover out, we had the ALSEP deployed, and we could begin enjoying ourselves."]

140:45:11 Cernan: I'll be right there, Jack, to get the (PLSS) antenna - as soon as I turn the LCRU on.
[The LCRU is the Lunar Communications Relay Unit, hanging on the front of the Rover.]
140:45:16 Schmitt: Okay. I'm on the ladder. Door is closed. (Pause)
[There is a dump-valve handle on the outside of the hatch.]
RealVideo Clip (20 min 36 sec) by Mick Hyde

Video Clip 3 min 36 sec ( 0.9 Mb RealVideo or 32 Mb MPEG Clip ) by Ken Glover

140:45:27 Cernan: (Reading CDR-4) Okay, (TV) Power switch is Internal. I'm in Mode 3. LCRU blankets are open 100 percent. AGC is 4.0 plus, and power is about 1.8. Temps are about 1.6 or 1.4.

[The TV comes on, showing Gene's footpan. As usual, Ed Fendell - who is operating the camera from Houston - starts with a counter-clockwise pan.]
140:45:48 Parker: Okay. And we have a good picture there, Geno. Thank you.

140:45:56 Cernan: Already, huh?

140:45:57 Parker: Already.

140:45:59 Cernan: Well, let me just tweak you up a little bit. Okay, I've got you tweaked, right in the middle.

[Gene has centered Earth in the high-gain antenna boresight.]
140:46:07 Parker: Thank you. And, Gene, after you finish closing up both those battery covers up front there, why don't you go back and give us that (Rover battery) temperature reading and then put the breakers in and then give us another temperature reading on the batteries.
[Fendell now finds both Gene and Jack at the back of the Rover.]
140:46:21 Cernan: Yes, sir; I'll do that. Jack, here, let's get the (PLSS/OPS) antennas (as per CDR-4 and LMP-4).

140:46:35 Schmitt: You want to get...You want to hang on (to) the Rover?

[Jack is asking Gene to lean on the Rover so that he can reach his antenna.]
140:46:37 Cernan: I guess...Well, okay.

140:46:39 Schmitt: I think it's easier.

140:46:42 Cernan: Now, I'm low, so get mine, now. I'm (standing) in a hole. (Long Pause)

140:47:00 Schmitt: Okay; you're up.

140:47:02 Cernan: Okay. (Long Pause) Standby...get down there yet. Got to secure the flaps. Okay, you're all right.

[Jack now bends his knees so that Gene can free his antenna.]

[Cernan - "Getting those antennas free was no easy task in the gloves."]

140:47:35 Cernan: Okay, you're up.

140:47:39 Schmitt: Okay.

[Jack moves to the SEP receiver, mounted on the geopost at the right rear of the Rover, behind his seat. He is now on LMP-5]
140:47:41 Schmitt: Okay, (SEP) Power switch is going to Standby. And the temperature is 80 (degrees Fahrenheit or 27 Celsius). And I'll close the blankets.

140:47:51 Parker: Copy 80 on the SEP.

140:47:54 Schmitt: That's affirm. (Pause) You know what happened? The Velcro came unbonded. That's why those (dust covers) don't hold down. We probably ought to get a piece of tape on those. Because they've got a set and it's going to get dusty. The blankets...There's no Velcro left to hold the SEP blankets down, Bob.

[The top of the SEP is at about chest height. The glue holding Velcro fasteners onto the SEP dust covers failed sometime during the first EVA. The unit has an internal temperature sensor which will shut it down if it gets too hot - greater than about 108F - and that limit is being approached. They will get data during the traverse to Station 2 and some on the drive back from Station 4 to the LM. Thereafter, the unit will be too hot to work.]
140:48:22 Parker: Okay, I copy that, Jack.
[Jack goes to the LM ladder to get the ETB.]
140:48:27 Schmitt: Do you have a reading on the gravimeter?

140:48:30 Cernan: Yeah, I took a reading, Jack.

140:48:31 Schmitt: Okay.

140:48:32 Parker: It's measuring right now, Jack, we'll get it later.

140:48:34 Cernan: All right.

140:48:35 Schmitt: Okay. I hope I didn't hit it with some dust.

140:48:37 Cernan: Hey, it is not measuring, Bob...

140:48:41 Parker: Oh, that's right. Sorry about that.

140:48:42 Cernan: ...All I did was take a reading. I turned it on and took a reading.

140:48:44 Parker: You're right, you're right, and I'm wrong.

140:48:49 Cernan: Okay, Bob...

140:48:50 Schmitt: Hey, Bob.

140:48:51 Cernan: ...the (Rover) battery temperatures are 0 and 0.

Video Clip 3 min 36 sec ( 1.0 Mb RealVideo or 35 Mb MPEG Clip )

140:48:55 Parker: Copy that. Okay.

[There had been some concern about the battery temperature indicators and this is a check to see if they are giving proper zero readings with the batteries off.]
140:48:59 Schmitt: Bob, there's your pendulum.
[Schmitt - "Bob Parker and I had talked about getting a TV picture of a pendulum motion in one-sixth gravity. The lanyard was hanging down and so I just gave it a little push so that he could have his pendulum."]
140:49:03 Parker: Okay.
[Because nothing is hanging from the lanyard to make it a classical pendulum, Jack's push excites multiple modes of oscillation.]
140:49:05 Schmitt: It's not a very good one. I'll work on that. (Pause) Are you going to be there for a minute, Gene?

140:49:16 Cernan: Just putting these batteries in. I'm done on this.

[Gene leans across his seat to close the battery circuit breakers and read the battery temperatures.]
140:49:19 Cernan: (To Bob) Oh, you'll be glad to hear this. We got 70 (degrees) on battery 1 and about 92 on battery 2.

140:49:24 Parker: Beautiful! Beautiful. 70 and 92. I copy.

[At the end of the first EVA, the temperatures were 108 and 123 degrees, respectively. Clearly, the combination of Gene's dusting and the wax cooling system has been effective.]
140:49:29 Cernan: Yes, sir! Let me just verify this (navigation circuit breaker) is in, Jack, (as per CDR-4)and I'll be all done. Okay. You've got it. I'm all done.

RealAudio Clip ( 6 min 49 sec ) by Marv Hein

140:49:39 Schmitt: Okay. (Pause) Okay, here's your old fender.

[Gene has gone toward the LM to open Sample Return Container (SRC) 2; Jack removes the replacement fender from the ETB and lays it in Gene's footpan. Gene is now on CDR-5.]
140:49:50 Cernan: Yeah, I'll work on that. Shortly. (Pause) Well, I think I'm going to Intermediate (suit) cooling to start with here.

140:50:04 Schmitt: Okay. I think I will, too. That's a good idea.

140:50:07 Cernan: One zap of cold (that is, maximum cooling) to see if it's working. (Pause) It's working. And back to Intermediate. (Long Pause)

[Schmitt - "By putting the valve all the way up to full cold, you could very quickly feel a pulse of cold water in the Liquid Cooled Garment. This was done just to make sure the valve was working."]

[Jack is removing film magazines from the ETB.]

140:50:48 Schmitt: Okay. Lots of (film) mags. (Pause) Okay; mag...

140:51:11 Cernan: I have the same problem with this SRC, I'll bet.

[Fendell pans to watch Gene at the MESA. He is sealing the organic sample - a roll of aluminum metal - in a sample bag and will put it in the SRC to provide experimenters with a measure of contamination of lunar samples by gases released by the spacecraft and the suits. Once the sample is sealed, Gene will close the SRC lid to prevent excessive heating. At the start of the first EVA, he'd had trouble getting the lid of SRC 1 to stay closed and eventually had to put the "big bag" on the top of the lid to hold it down.]
140:51:14 Schmitt: Mag Romeo is going to go on the old 500(-mm camera) in a minute. Mag India is in there. Mag Kilo (Pause) Mag Juliett (Pause) Mag Bravo, Mag Delta.
[Jack is taking film magazines from the ETB and is putting them under Gene's Rover seat. Gene closes the SRC lid. Some readers may want to note that Jack is not trying to come up with women's names for the film magazines as he did during EVA-1 and will later in the mission. Through this section, he seems too intent on getting ready for the traverse - his first chance to really get out and do geology - to be quite as playful as he is at other times.]
140:52:05 Cernan: Okay, Bob, the SRC organic sample has been sealed. And the SRC lid is staying almost closed, about 2 or 3 inches open; if that's fine, I'd like to leave that.

140:52:20 Parker: Okay. Go ahead and leave it, Gene. If it's not (okay), we'll get back with you on it.

Video Clip 3 min 36 sec ( 0.9 Mb RealVideo or 36 Mb MPEG Clip )

140:52:26 Cernan: Okay. I'm going to hit your gravimeter here.

[The gravimeter is on the ground, between the MESA and the ladder. Gene bends his knees, holding on to the MESA to reach the Grav button to start a new reading.]
140:52:31 Schmitt: Polarizing filter,...

140:52:35 Cernan: Mark it;...

140:52:36 Schmitt: ...utility light clamps.

140:52:37 Cernan: ...and the light is flashing.

140:52:38 Parker: Copy that. (Pause)

140:52:42 Schmitt: scissors. (Long Pause)

[The flashing light indicates that the gravimeter is leveling itself in preparation for making a measurement. In three minutes or less, it will be leveled, the measurement will be done, and Gene can push the Read button. Jack is about to start the tasks on LMP-6.]
140:53:04 Parker: Okay. And, Jack, you're getting ready to take care of the charge; remember EP-4 goes between the Rover seats, and EP-5 we're going to put on one of the footpads in the Sun. Probably either the minus-Z (east) or the minus-Y (south) footpad, whichever is more convenient. Probably the minus-Z is. Just as long as it is sitting in the Sun is the important thing on the (choice of) footpad.

140:53:26 Schmitt: Okay. (Long Pause)

[As was discussed at 138:21:35, there are two charges in a transporter that Gene mounted on the Rover before driving out to the ALSEP site. EP-4 is a 1/8th pound charge which Jack will now put between the seats for deployment early in the upcoming traverse. EP-5 is a three pound charge which they will save until EVA-3 and, for now, Jack is getting it and the first transporter out of the way so that he can mount a second transporter - containing charges 1, 2, 3, and 8 - on the Rover.]
140:53:57 Cernan: Boy, oh boy! Going to be a...(Pause) Why won't that come out? (Pause) Well, Bob, I'm having a little trouble getting the LCRU (replacement) battery out (of the MESA). I'll have to go back and use two hands.
[The MESA bounces as Gene pulls on the battery, one handed. He has an SCB in his other hand which he now takes to the Rover.]

[Schmitt - "The LCRU batteries were stored in the MESA section of the descent stage, and we had to put in new ones for every EVA."]

140:54:30 Parker: Okay. That sounds like a familiar problem.

140:54:36 Cernan: Well, you got any familiar answers?

140:54:42 Parker: Someone who's been there before (John Young) says you just got to work it back and forth until it comes loose.

[Jack goes to the MESA with the ETB, followed shortly by Gene.]
140:54:49 Cernan: Okay. (Pause) I can get that, Jack. I've got to...

140:55:05 Schmitt: Want to hang it up?

140:55:07 Cernan: Yeah. I've got to work here anyway. (Long Pause)

[Jack takes the EP transporter - containing EP-5 - to the east LM footpad. Gene is still struggling with the LCRU battery. It is too far inboard for him to get a good grip with two hands.]
MP3 Audio Clip ( 20 min 49 sec )

140:55:48 Schmitt: Okay, Bob, it's on the minus-Z and the...One corner is facing directly into the Sun.

Video Clip 3 min 01 sec ( 0.8 Mb RealVideo or 31 Mb MPEG Clip )

140:55:57 Parker: Okay; copy that.

140:56:03 Schmitt: That's EP-5.

140:56:05 Parker: Roger that. And I copy (charge) number 4 was put between the seat.

140:56:12 Schmitt: Yeah, it's between the seat, or will be very soon.

140:56:17 Cernan: Boy, this is ridiculous. Ridiculous.

[Gene is puffing audibly.]
140:56:23 Schmitt: Whoops, I need that other (EP) transporter.
[The charge transporter is stowed in the equipment bay on the northeast face of the LM Descent Stage.]
140:56:35 Cernan: (To himself and the world in general) Well, it's nothing worth getting upset about it, but it sure makes you start out...When you shouldn't have to this way.

140:56:41 Schmitt: Come on, just don't wear your hands out now.

140:56:43 Cernan: Yeah.

[Cernan - "In listening to this part, I can still feel the frustration of trying to get that damn little LCRU battery out of a storage area in the MESA. The problems you want to deal with are the ones that are worth solving, not something little that's avoidable. Of course, the real world is always a little different than the training. The training is good because you can try to look at every possible aspect of what you're going to be doing. You anticipate problems, you get proficient, and you get productive; but you're always going to run into new and different situations and, when you do, it's the little, avoidable things that are frustrating. Like having to tie a shoelace that comes undone all the time. If you have the right shoelace to start with, you wouldn't have the problem. Same thing with these LCRU batteries: we had just started the damn EVA and all of a sudden I had to wrestle with a little battery that I should have been able to just pick up and put in place."]
RealAudio Clip ( 6 min 53 sec )

140:56:44 Parker: Hey, Geno...

140:56:45 Schmitt: Need a little help?

140:56:46 Cernan: No, I think I can do it, just got to wiggle...

140:56:48 Parker: ...jiggle it gently and sort of let it come free there. It's a matter of it wedging itself in, of course, on the parallel rails.

140:56:55 Cernan: Yeah. I...I see what's happening, Bob. (Pause) It's still ridiculous. (Long Pause)

[Jack comes to the Rover from the east; Gene is still struggling with the battery.]
140:57:37 Schmitt: Bob, did you hear my comment about the...about the SEP receiver?

140:57:44 Parker: Roger. That the blankets won't stay closed. We're talking about that down here.

140:58:04 Cernan: Boy; a bag of peanuts! Whew!! Man in space. Without them we'd be lost.

[In 1997, I suggested to Gene that "bag of peanuts" was a reference to the small, plasticized bags of peanuts that the airlines serve that are all but impossible to open. He agreed.]

[Gene turns into the Sun, now holding the 8x4x2 inch battery by a loop handle.]

140:58:18 Schmitt: Without them we wouldn't have the LCRU and the MESA probably. (Chuckles)

140:58:22 Cernan: Manischewitz. Okay. Let me see what I can do for you while I'm here. Okay. (Consults checklist) "LCRU battery under seat, dustbrush to LCRU. Okay. I'll go get that; then I'll get to work." (Long Pause)

[Gene gets the big brush off the ladder hook where he had left it at the end of the first EVA. Jack goes around the south side of the LM to take a color pan with Gene's camera.]
Video Clip ( 3 min 44 sec 1.0 Mb RealVideo or 39 Mb MPEG Clip )

140:58:51 Schmitt: Hey, Bob, what's my shadow length right now? (Pause)

[Schmitt - "My shadow was the only long ruler that I regularly carried around with me. And, knowing that everybody underestimates distance on the Moon, I asked them to be ready to give me my shadow length so that I could see what it looked like and know what it really was. And it always looked a lot less long than it really was."]
140:58:54 Parker: Stand by. I'll ask. (Pause) We'll get it for you momentarily. (Pause)
[Gene goes to his Rover seat with the battery.]
140:59:14 Parker: Okay, Jack. We've got four-point-five meters or one-five feet.

140:59:25 Schmitt: 4.5 meters, huh? Hmmm.

140:59:28 Cernan: 15 feet!? Is that how long I am on the ground? No wonder I've misjudged distance! Zap!

[Gene waves into the TV.]
140:59:42 Cernan: Hello there, Houston.

140:59:44 Parker: Hello there. (Pause) Okay, Jack. And do we have the new charge transporter on the pallet?

[Fendell pans away counter-clockwise.]
140:59:52 Schmitt: I'll say yes, but you could have looked for yourself (with the TV).

140:59:55 Parker: Well, we just looked away.

140:59:58 Cernan: Yeah, it's here. It's here, Bob.

141:00:00 Parker: Copy that. I won't ask if we got the L.C.R.U. battery. That one, I did see.

141:00:11 Cernan: Yeah, we got it. You don't think I'd leave it here.

[Gene will stow the replacement LCRU battery under his seat as a backup for this EVA. If all goes according to plan, he will actually make the replacement at the start of EVA-3.]
141:00:14 Cernan: Okay, (Sample Collection Bag) 7. (Pause) Boy, this (tool storage) gate's working like a charm. (Long Pause)
[While Fendell is panning counter-clockwise, Gene is taking SCB-7 to the tool gate at the back of the Rover, as per CDR-5. He will then transfer a core cap dispenser, two packs of sample bags, and three core tubes from SCB-5 into SCB-7 and then, as per CDR-6, put sample-bag packs on the cameras and stow SCB-7 as a spare under Jack's seat. After that, Jack will put SCB-5 on Gene's PLSS, Gene to put SCB-4 on Jack's PLSS, and SCB-6 to be hung on the gate. They will actually wind up with a different pair of SCBs on the PLSSs because of the break in procedure caused by the fender replacement.]
141:01:12 Cernan: Okay. (Reading at the bottom of CDR-5) "Transfer from (SCB-)5 to 7." Okay?

141:01:17 Parker: Okay and...

141:01:22 Schmitt: Okay. The (photographic) pan's complete.

141:01:23 Parker: Okay, Jack. Copy that.

[Jack is southeast of the LM, taking an 8 o'clock pan to complement the one he took at the start of the first EVA. These photos are AS17-137- 20866 to 20893. Frame 20873 shows the ALSEP storage bay and the RTG fuel cask.]

[Frame AS17-137- 20894 is a photo of the front of the Rover that Jack probably takes soon after he finishes the pan.]

[The f-stop settings used relative to the direction of the Sun are shown on a decal mounted on the top of the film magazine. 'HBW' is High-Speed Black-and-White. Smithsonian Institution photo by Jim Remar.]

141:01:24 Schmitt: And, Bob, those pans around here have more pictures (than normal 12-photo pans) because I'm having...To be sure I get the massifs, I'm having to take extra pictures.

141:01:37 Parker: Okay. Copy that. And I guess we'd suggest that, if you haven't talked about it already, that you work on the fender before you do the Geo Prep. You don't have your cameras and bags to worry about at that point.

141:01:52 Cernan: Okay. Would that be a good time for Jack to go to the ALSEP, do you think? Or do you think we both have to do this fender?

141:01:57 Parker: No. The ALSEP work we're not going to do until the end of the EVA.

[Fendell finishes the counter-clockwise pan and reverses direction.]
141:02:02 Cernan: I heard John's words. (Responding to Bob) Okay.

141:02:06 Parker: And, Jack, if Gene's working there on unstowing SCB whatever-it-is - 5, yeah, 5 - maybe when you put the camera down, you might want to shoot off a few 500-millimeter frames of the North and South Massifs, if they look interesting. I can't tell from the TV. That might be an opportune time to grab a couple.

Video Clip ( 4 min 13 sec 1.1 Mb RealVideo or 42 Mb MPEG Clip )

141:02:27 Schmitt: (Incredulous) If they look interesting!? If they look interesting!? Now what kind of thing is that to say? (Pause)

[Schmitt - "The first Apollo TV camera was just ludicrous. NASA just totally screwed up the specs in buying the thing and there was no excuse for it. Finally, we got a good, high resolution camera for 15, 16, and 17. Actually, Tom Stafford flew it on 10. But the so-called Apollo Television Camera that flew on Apollo 11 was terrible - low resolution, black-and-white. Just not any good at all. It couldn't take any kind of bright scene at all. On Apollo 8, we had to put every filter in the spacecraft in front of it just to take a picture of the Earth."]

[Apollos 12 and 14 flew a low resolution color television camera which was still too light sensitive. The Apollo 12 crew accidentally burned out the vidicon tube in their camera by pointing it at a patch of reflected sunlight on the LM and, throughout the Apollo 14 ALSEP deployment - at a site down-Sun of the camera - all that could be seen of Shepard and Mitchell was a pair of overexposed, white blobs.]

[Cernan - "Getting color television on Apollo 10 was a personal crusade of Tom Stafford's. It was the first flight to carry color TV, and Tom had to lobby and push awfully, awfully hard to get it qualified and get it on board. It didn't make any difference who you were dealing with, every time you wanted to do something like that - whether it was for scientific purposes or whether it was for PR purposes - there was always an element that thought you were doing those kind of things from a self-promotional point of view. What I don't remember was why the color camera wasn't lunar surface qualified for the first three missions. Television, and particularly high definition color television let people understand what you were doing or seeing from a scientific point of view - or from an operational point of view or in terms of sharing the experience. Television had a major impact of the space program and we should have started using it a lot earlier. On Gemini 9, the ground had little or no idea what I was going through up there. If they had been able to see, they could have been a part of it; they could have helped. We might have solved some of the problems right then and there in real time."]

141:02:45 Parker: Then, when Gene gets done configuring that SCB-5, we'd like to get on with the fender fix. Then, we'll do the Geo Prep after that.

141:02:55 Cernan: We'll get on with it, Bob. (Long Pause)

[Fendell finds Gene at the gate and Jack at Gene's seat.]
141:03:27 Cernan: My God, we got a lot of loose stuff in SCB-7. (Pause) Okay, Bob. I got three core tubes...Well, wait a minute. (I've) only got one core cap dispenser. Let me get the other one. (Pause as he double-checks CDR-5) Well, that's all I wanted. (Reading) Okay; "three core tubes, two 20-bag dispensers, one core cap dispenser, and the short can."

RealAudio Clip ( 6 min 54 sec )

141:04:03 Parker: Okay. Copy that, Geno.

141:04:07 Cernan: Jack,...

141:04:08 Schmitt: Yeah. Are you ready to work?

141:04:09 Cernan: ...see this right here?

141:04:10 Schmitt: Yeah.

[The identity of "this" remains a mystery.]
141:04:11 Cernan: I'm going to put that right there.

141:04:13 Schmitt: Okay. (Pause) Are you ready to work?

[Jack has the 500 millimeter camera.]
141:04:18 Cernan: Just let me turn my (checklist) page here. (Long Pause)

141:04:31 Cernan: Almost (ready); stand by. (To himself, looking at CDR-6) Okay; I already got one (SCB) on the gate. (Pause) That didn't count. (Pause) Okay. (To Jack) Want a couple 20-bag dispensers?

[Fendell looks at the maps on Jack's seat, then returns to Jack at Gene's seat. Gene is getting two more packs of sample bags out of SCB-5 to hang on the 70-mm cameras.]
141:04:58 Schmitt: Well, I'm waiting for you to...

141:05:00 Cernan: Well, let's get this done.

141:05:02 Schmitt: You want to...

141:05:03 Cernan: Here.

141:05:04 Schmitt: Well, what are you doing now?

141:05:05 Cernan: I was just getting this gear out now to work on the fender.

141:05:08 Schmitt: Okay.

[Jack puts the 500 on Gene's seat.]
141:05:09 Cernan: I'm not to Geo Prep yet.

141:05:10 Schmitt: Okay.

141:05:12 Cernan: Here you are.

141:05:13 Schmitt: Wait a minute.

141:05:15 Cernan: We'll just set these here.

[Gene brings Jack a packet of sample bags to put on the seat, and then goes back to the gate.]
141:05:18 Cernan: And there's another one. Okay; SCB-7 goes under your seat.

141:05:30 Schmitt: Okay. I'll get that. Your camera has the (sample) bags on it.

[Gene goes to Jack's seat.]
141:05:43 Schmitt: You might just put it there, and I'll come over and get those maps and everything.

141:05:46 Cernan: Okay. (Probably looking at CDR-6) That goes under your seat. Let me get 4. Okay, we got 4 and 6. I'm going to start on the...We got SCB-4, goes to you, and SCB-6 goes on the gate yet, Jack, but let's pick that up with Geo Prep, and let me get that fender gear. Where's the (new fender)...

141:06:04 Schmitt: It's in your seat pan.

141:06:05 Cernan: In my seat pan? Okay.

[Jack goes around the rear of the Rover to his own seat, passing Gene who is going to his own seat.]
141:06:09 Schmitt: I should have put it over here. That was just where it ended up.

141:06:15 Cernan: You already use the 500?

[Jack arranges the maps.]
141:06:17 Schmitt: No, I didn't get a chance to.

141:06:18 Cernan: Okay. You might do it while I try the fender, and then you're here to help me in case I need it.

141:06:21 Schmitt: (Pointing with the maps) All your (fender) stuff's right there, Gene.

RealVideo Clip by Mick Hyde (15 min 10 sec)

141:06:25 Cernan: Oh, okay. I see it. Well, let's hope it does the job. (Long Pause)

[Jack clips the maps to the accessory staff, puts the extra maps under his seat, and moves a 70-millimeter camera off of his seat. Gene is at the gate. Jack raises his seat and puts the SCB-7 in the seat pan.]
Video Clip ( 3 min 24 sec 0.9 Mb RealVideo or 34 Mb MPEG Clip )

141:07:19 Schmitt: Okay, SCB-7's in my seat. And I put the return-to-LM map in there, too; it's just going to be in the way anywhere else.

141:07:30 Parker: Okay. Copy that. (Pause)

141:07:39 Schmitt: Let me check something, though. (Takes out map) On the way to Hole-in-the-Wall, we want to drive...

141:07:50 Parker: (Garbled under Jack) top of the notch.

141:07:55 Schmitt: (Replacing the map) Okay.

141:08:02 Cernan: Hope this thing gets stiff. It's just a flapper. Sure isn't stiff like I want it to be.

[The front half of the original fender is still in place. Gene, at the back of the wheel, positions the new fender over the top of the wheel and overlaps it with the remaining section of original fender.]
141:08:09 Schmitt: You want me to hold it there?
[Jack, standing to the side and slightly in front of the wheel, takes hold of the new fender.]
141:08:11 Cernan: Yeah, you're going to have to, I reckon. But, that may do the job. Let's see, does it come over the...I want it about right above the axle...Let me...Move your hand a minute. Let me align it. Okay. Hold it right there. Let me get the...

141:08:25 Schmitt: Okay.

141:08:26 Cernan: Let me move it up just a little bit. Right there. Okay. Hold it right there. Let me see how much room I've got coming out.

[He raises the rear of the paper fender to see how much coverage he's got, and then rotates the new fender 90 degrees.]
141:08:39 Cernan: I want to turn this around. We can tape that other end, Jack. There you go.

141:08:42 Schmitt: It's tending to fold a little bit...

141:08:44 Cernan: I think...Yeah, but the dust will be coming up from under it. Let's see.

141:08:49 Schmitt: Temperature, I think, is making it fold.

[Gene lifts the rear edge again to check coverage.]
141:08:51 Cernan: Now, that'll give us plenty of room down there. Yeah, I just don't want to interfere with the steering.

141:08:57 Schmitt: You think that'll stop the dust that way?

141:09:00 Cernan: Well, it'll stop some of it, if it stays on.

[Gene opens one of the clamps. It has a screw mechanism requiring finger work. Young had recommended opening the clamps before they were placed in the ETB. However, Gene doesn't seem to be having much trouble, despite the stiffness of the gloves.]
141:09:03 Schmitt: Well, what I mean, it's not projecting outward at all. It's curling back under.

141:09:07 Cernan: Well, when I put a clamp here, and a clamp here, see what will happen?

[He pushes down at the clamp locations to demonstrate that the fender becomes a fairly rigid half-tube.]
141:09:10 Schmitt: Oh, okay. (Pause) Is that about where you want it? (Pause) Lean against me, if you need to. (Pause)
[Gene is having trouble reaching the inboard clamp position.]
141:09:37 Cernan: Trying to figure out...No, I've got to clamp it right in that rail; it's not much to clamp it on the inside.

141:09:43 Schmitt: No. Keep the knob up. There, you got it.

141:09:47 Cernan: Hold it right there. We got it all folded up on this side?

141:09:48 Schmitt: Why don't you try the outside.

141:09:49 Cernan: Let it go a minute. Okay.

141:09:51 Schmitt: Why don't you try the outside, first? Fix it...

Video Clip ( 1 min 06 sec 0.3 Mb RealVideo or 11 Mb MPEG Clip )

141:09:56 Parker: Inside first; probably be better, guys. (Pause)

141:10:06 Schmitt: Got enough overlap there?

141:10:08 Cernan: Nope, I want a little more.

[Gene gives up on his second attempt to fasten the inboard clamp.]
141:10:09 Schmitt: Okay.

141:10:10 Cernan: And I am going to try this side because I can get my overlap over here. (Pause)

[He gets the outboard clamp positioned and starts to screw it tight with his left hand.]
141:10:26 Cernan: Okay. Now, hold it right there while I clamp it down. (Pause)
[Gene switches hands after a dozen or so turns of the screw. In Houston, the Public Affairs commentator offers "It's only a paper fender, but the Moon is real" which is a pun on the song lyric, "It's only a paper Moon..."]
141:10:39 Cernan: Well, that paper isn't going to come off, and the clamp's not going to come off, I'll say that. I don't know how much we're going to get out of the fender but...

141:10:49 Schmitt: Okay, that's fixed?

141:10:51 Cernan: Yeah.

RealAudio Clip ( 9 min 17 sec ) by Marv Hein

141:10:53 Schmitt: Can you fix that at all?

Video Clip ( 3 min 21 sec 0.9 Mb RealVideo or 33 Mb MPEG Clip )

141:10:56 Cernan: Yep. That ought to give us a little strengthening, stiffening. Yeah.

141:11:02 Schmitt: Pretty tight.

141:11:05 Cernan: Yep. (Grunting) Tighter for the road. I don't want to lose that. (Grunting) Man, that's tight. Now, let's see if I can get this one. (He gets the second clamp open) Jack, why don't you come on this side and hold the fender down right there. (Pause)

[They trade places; Jack to the rear, Gene to the front.]
141:11:37 Cernan: Hold it right about there.

141:11:43 Schmitt: Okay. You want to get it (the clamp) outboard a little more...I mean aft?

141:11:47 Cernan: No, I want to keep it above this center...the hub here...

141:11:53 Schmitt: Yeah, Okay.

141:11:54 Cernan: ...for steering purposes. See this...

141:11:55 Schmitt: Is that fixed for the...Well...

141:11:57 Cernan: I'll take a look at it. I'm going to tighten it down so it stays, then I'm going to take a look at it. I might turn this thing down, too.

141:12:04 Schmitt: Yeah; I was just going to suggest that. (Pause)

[Gene has the inboard clamp positioned.]
141:12:15 Cernan: Let me take a look before I get it too tight. Well, I'll tell you, that's going to help some.
[Gene gets his arm out of the way and leans in for a close look.]
141:12:20 Schmitt: Yup. It may do the trick.

141:12:22 Cernan: I can't see what's under this rail too well, but I know that clamp is on. It's on tight.

141:12:27 Schmitt: Gene, it looks...

141:12:30 Cernan: (Reaching in) Let me move this...

141:12:31 Schmitt: Move your left hand a little. Okay. Tighten that now.

141:12:34 Cernan: Get this out of the way.

141:12:39 Schmitt: Looks as if...

141:12:43 Cernan: Let me loosen it, and get it a little straighter.

141:12:44 Schmitt: Yeah, I think you need to straighten it.

141:12:47 Cernan: Boy, I had it tight.

141:12:48 Schmitt: Yeah, but you know you've got another piece in there so...

141:12:51 Cernan: Yeah, that's why it's crooked, it's over those pieces.

141:12:53 Schmitt: Yeah. Well, you might want to move it...If you could move it this way about a...(about) an inch, you'd be past the ridge you got.

141:13:00 Cernan: Well, I'm just taking John's word on the steering.

141:13:02 Schmitt: Okay.

141:13:03 Cernan: I'm keeping above the hub here.

141:13:04 Schmitt: Okay; tighten her down then. (Pause)

[Gene starts tightening with his left hand.]
141:13:20 Schmitt: I think that'll stay.

141:13:21 Cernan: I think it'll stay!

[Grunting, Gene tightens it a last little bit.]
141:13:26 Schmitt: Why don't I turn this one...

141:13:27 Cernan: Okay. You won't get that any tighter.

141:13:28 Schmitt: No, I mean, why don't I turn that down because it'll keep...(It will be) that much less to run into (as they work around the Rover). There you go.

[Gene adjusts the outside clamp.]
141:13:37 Cernan: Well, not too close to that wheel. Okay?

141:13:41 Schmitt: I think that's good.

141:13:45 Cernan: Too bad we don't have one more clamp...Well, one more clamp would probably interfere with the steering.

141:13:50 Schmitt: I think that'll stop the rooster tail, because that's...

141:13:53 Cernan: I think that'll stop a lot of it, Houston.

141:13:54 Schmitt: ...that's swinging forward. Okay. Let's go.

[The repair job took about 5 minutes.]

[Cernan - "It seemed like it was a lot longer than five minutes."]

141:13:59 Schmitt: The maps are configured.

141:14:00 Parker: Okay. That sounds like a good attempt, men. We'll hope it works.

141:14:03 Cernan: Does that look...Does that look good to John, from what he did?

141:14:09 Parker: It looks exactly what his did, he says.

[Young has, of course, been watching the proceedings.]
141:14:12 Cernan: That tape will keep it...(Stops to listen to Bob)
[Jack goes to the gate.]
141:14:15 Cernan: Yeah, but he didn't run in the dust, so I guess we'll have to give it a trial run. That'll help some.
[Gene straightens up, the job done to his satisfaction.]
Video Clip ( 3 min 47 sec 1.0 Mb RealVideo or 37 Mb MPEG Clip )

141:14:19 Parker: Roger on that. We're anxiously waiting.

141:14:20 Cernan: Okay, Jack. I'm going to High (cooling) for a little bit. Okay. I need...

141:14:29 Schmitt: Oh, shoot.

141:14:31 Cernan: No, I want (SCB-)4.

141:14:32 Schmitt: I took 8 off (the MESA).

[Gene was supposed to have gotten SCBs 4 and 6 off of the MESA. Jack was trying to get them back on schedule by getting the bags, but got the wrong one. Jack is on LMP-6 and Gene is on CDR-6. They are starting the Geo Prep activities.]

[Schmitt - "The empty bags were stowed in the MESA and you would think that an intelligent human being would be able to grab the right one."]

141:14:33 Cernan: (Consulting his checklist) No, sir. I want 4 and 6. Why don't you just substitute...

141:14:38 Schmitt: (To Bob) Hey, I just took 8 off. Can we use 8 instead of 6?

141:14:42 Cernan: Yeah, we can.

141:14:44 Parker: Yeah, I don't see there's any reason why you shouldn't be able to use that, Jack. Go ahead. We'll just mark it down.

141:14:49 Cernan: Okay. Turn around, Jack. Hey, Bob, we'll use 8 instead of 4.

[Gene starts mounting the SCB on the right side of Jack's PLSS.]
141:14:53 Parker: Okay. Understand 8 will be on the LMP.

141:14:59 Cernan: That's affirm; 8 will be on the LMP.

[Schmitt - "Once the samples were in the SCBs, that's where they were going to stay until recovery. In that way, if they wanted a particular set of samples, they would know which bag to get. Some of the samples would be in the boxes (meaning the SRCs), but a lot of them just stay in the bags until they got to the Lunar Receiving Laboratory."]
141:15:10 Parker: Geno, you went to Min (cooling) instead of Max.

141:15:14 Cernan: I think you're right. I just realized that. (Pause)

141:15:23 Schmitt: (To Gene) Got it?

[Gene has SCB-8 mounted on Jack's PLSS; he reaches for his cooling control.]
141:15:26 Cernan: Yep, let me go to Max here for a minute. We need (SCB-)6 off of there, Jack.
[Cernan - "This is a good example of how I had to move my arm forward and then back to loosen the arm bearing and get some momentum so that I could reach the diverter valve. If you tried to just sneak back there slowly, it was hard to do. It was one of the little things you did to adapt to the suit and the environment."]

[Jack opens the gate.]

141:15:32 Schmitt: Oh, 5 stays back here, huh?

141:15:33 Cernan: We need 6 to the gate. It's probably behind 4, isn't it.

141:15:41 Parker: Well, put 4 on the gate, guys,...

141:15:43 Schmitt: Yeah, probably.

141:15:46 Parker: ...and put 5 on the Commander.

141:15:47 Schmitt: Yeah. Okay; 4 is going on the gate and 5 on the Commander.

141:15:53 Cernan: (To Bob) Okay, Bob, a little paperwork for you, but that's all right. Okay. (Pause)

MP3 Audio Clip ( 13 min 06 sec )

141:16:00 Cernan: (Consulting his checklist) Now, I got to do some more stowing on you when you get that on. (Pause)

141:16:13 Schmitt: Okay. They're in the...(Pause) Where do you want me?

141:16:21 Cernan: Your left side.

141:16:24 Schmitt: I mean...Which way are you going to turn?

[They are mostly hidden by the gate. Jack is facing southeast; Gene is northeast of him, mounting equipment on the left side of his PLSS.]
141:16:33 Cernan: Oh, man, does that Velcro get tough. (Long Pause)

141:16:50 Cernan: Okay, you've got a core cap dispenser. Stand by; let me fix these for you while I'm here. Okay. Here's your doffing harness on this side. Don't move yet, I've got something I've got to do to you.

141:17:04 Schmitt: Okay.

[Gene gets something from the gate, probably the drive-tube rammer.]
141:17:07 Cernan: Okay; turn around, I'll get your harness on the other side.
[By getting Jack to turn around, Gene will have sunlight on the right-side straps he's trying to adjust.]
141:17:16 Schmitt: Let me get yours too.

141:17:17 Cernan: Okay. (Pause) Okay, there you go.

[Jack starts adjusting Gene's straps, working in shadow.]
141:17:23 Cernan: Okay, you've got a cap dispenser, you've got a (drive tube) rammer, and you've got...Well, I guess SCB-8, if I'm not mistaken.

141:17:28 Schmitt: Yeah, that's all right, they got it. (Pause) Okay. That's one.

[Jack goes around Gene to the other side.]
141:17:35 Cernan: Okay. You can give me SCB-5 then, and...

141:17:41 Schmitt: Yeah. (Pause) Can you move...Move a little bit. There you go. (Pause)

[Jack pushes Gene away from the Rover a little so that he can get at the gate.]
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141:17:57 Schmitt: Okay. There you are. (Pause)

141:18:12 Cernan: You got it?

[Gene starts to move away.]
141:18:13 Schmitt: No.

141:18:14 Cernan: I'm sorry.

141:18:16 Schmitt: In fact, I've got to tighten up your (straps)...

141:18:21 Cernan: We've got to take a picture of that fender if it works.

[Fendell pans the TV upward.]
141:18:23 Schmitt: Wait a minute. No...If you weren't so tall. You just invariably stand so I have to get in a hole! Okay. Now let me tighten up your whole shooting match (meaning "everything") here. It's loose again. Hang on. (Pause)

141:18:47 Cernan: Okay.

[Fendell returns to them.]
141:18:53 Schmitt: Between Velcro and snaps, the world could never fall apart. Okay, (it's on).

141:18:58 Cernan: All set?

141:19:00 Schmitt: You're set.

141:19:01 Cernan: Okay. I'm going to get a hammer, and then I'll get the TGE.

141:19:04 Schmitt: I'm going to get my camera, and I'll go to the SEP site (140 meters east of the LM).

[Gene gets the hammer from the gate, puts it in his shin pocket.]
141:19:07 Parker: Okay. Why don't you start to the SEP site, Jack...

141:19:xx Cernan: Hey, Jack, when I start running...(Stops to listen to Bob)

141:19:xx Parker:...And, also, I presume that the dustbrush is on the Rover now.

[Jack gets a 70-mm camera from his seat and leaves. He is now on LMP-7.]
141:19:15 Cernan: It is.

141:19:17 Parker: Okay. Copy that.

141:19:21 Cernan: Jack, when I drive out there why don't you watch the rear wheel.

141:19:23 Schmitt: I will. Give me a yell when you start to drive.

141:19:25 Cernan: Okay. (Watch) both the steering and the rooster tail.

[Gene goes to read the gravimeter.]
141:19:32 Cernan: Oh, I hope it (the TGE reading he's about to take) is not all zeros. Okay, Bob. 670, 017, 701; 670, 017, 701.

141:19:45 Parker: Okay. Copy that. (Pause)

[Fendell pans away.]
141:19:53 Cernan: Okay; and the SCB is good. It's closed. It's in the shade. (Correcting himself) Or "SRC", I guess.
[Fendell finds Jack jogging to the SEP site. He is using a foot-to-foot, loping stride as he runs.]
141:20:03 Parker: Okay. And, Jack, when you get out to the SEP site, you might give us a reading on what the solar panels look like...How they survived the night with the tape on them.

141:20:17 Schmitt: I wouldn't think of not doing that. I'm curious myself. (Pause)

[The SEP gets its electric power from three small solar panels which Jack and Gene taped open at the end of the first EVA. It has been about 18 hours since Jack taped them at 123:09:08.]
RealAudio Clip ( 6 min 58 sec )

141:20:32 Cernan: Okay. The TGE is on the LRV.

141:20:34 Parker: Okay. Copy that.

[Cernan - "I don't think we had nearly as many acronyms in the Navy as we had in NASA. NASA won the prize. The Navy used them for the names of commands, like 'ComNavAirPac' which means 'Commander, Naval Air-forces, Pacific'. But I tell you, going down to NASA meant learning a whole new language: an acronym for everything. And for the longer ones, like LCRU, you just turned them into words and said 'Lacru'. It's funny, but a lot of acronyms became so much a part of the NASA lingo that if you stopped somebody and ask them 'What does LCRU stand for?', they couldn't tell you. People would know which box the LCRU was and what it did, but they couldn't tell you what the letters stood for."]
141:20:35 Cernan: (Reading CDR-7) Okay. I'm making an inventory. I've got the LCRU battery. Okay. We('ve) got (seismic charges number) 1, 3 and 2 and 8; LCRU blankets are open 100 percent. Battery covers are Closed. Dustbrush is on the LCRU. TGE is on the Rover. Jack, can you verify we got the right mags and a polar filter? Polarization (filter).

141:20:57 Schmitt: Yes, sir. I verified that.

141:20:58 Cernan: Okay. Very good.

141:21:00 Schmitt: You better put that 500 back under the seat.

141:21:02 Cernan: Yep. That's where it's going.

[Jack reaches the SEP. Once again, it looks as though he is below the Rover, even though there is really no appreciable elevation difference. He has covered the 140 meters is a bit less than 2 minutes; his average speed, then, is a modest 4.5 kilometers per hour.]
141:21:05 Schmitt: Well, Bob, it looks like (the SEP) tape survived. As I stand behind the panels, the left-hand panel may be tilted at about...well, less than 5 degrees. Probably about 2 or 3, but that's all. Looks pretty good right now.

141:21:24 Parker: Okay; beautiful. Thank you. Good fix.

141:21:29 Schmitt: Okay.

[Training photo 72-H-1410 shows Jack at the SEP transmitter.]
141:21:30 Cernan: Okay, Bob, I'm going to take the TV from you.

141:21:33 Parker: Okay. Copy that, Geno.

141:21:36 Schmitt: And the (SEP) transmitter's going on.

141:21:37 Parker: Copy that, Jack.

141:21:39 Schmitt: (Laughing) If I can do it without destroying it.

[Gene moves the TV camera just as Jack bends his knees so he can reach down far enough.]
141:21:44 Cernan: Yeah. That's hard to do out there, Jack. (To Bob) Okay. TV camera going Position 1.
[TV off.]
141:21:51 Schmitt: Transmitter's on. (I'll) fix the level there. Okay. The level is on the inner ring again. The gnomon has moved a little bit, but not much. But you would expect that, I guess (because the Sun has moved about 9 degrees in the eighteen hours since they deployed the SEP).
[This gnomon is a small post on the top of the SEP transmitter which casts a short shadow on a scale for alignment purposes.]
141:22:09 Parker: Yeah. Seeing the other end of the gnomon up there in the sky (the Sun) has moved a little bit.

141:22:15 Schmitt: Yeah. That's what I said.

141:22:17 Cernan: Okay. (70 mm) camera, tongs, and I'll drive. West leg, heading 270. (Pause) Camera is on. Bob, I'm on...I guess (frame) 26. Yes sir, frame 27, mag Charlie.

[Mag C, or Charlie, is Apollo magazine 137. Jack is using Mag Golf, which is Apollo mag 135.]
141:22:54 Parker: Copy that. Charlie 26...27.
[Here, Gene is referring to the 70-mm camera which he has mounted on a bracket on his chest.]
141:23:00 Schmitt: I had to relearn how to document samples, Bob. I just have. The first part of my roll will have a lot of random exposures and focuses. (Pause) Okay, we're back in business. And while I'm waiting for Gene, (I'm) getting a rock. It looks a little finer grained than the others we've seen. (It's) in the LRV sampler, along with some soil. And that's done. (Gene's heaving breathing can be heard as he mounts the Rover.) Hey, that's a neat sampler. Only way to fly. Okay. And that's in bag 22E. It has the stereo documentation and a locator to the LM, and it's about 2 meters from the SEP.
[Jack's "random exposures and focuses" are frames AS17-135-20533 to 20537. Frame 20538 is the "locator" to the LM, and 20539 and 20540 show the sample location and the raindrop pattern on the soil.]

[Schmitt - "This was the 'Dixie cup' sampler which I must have just grabbed and carried out to the SEP site without telling anyone. It held a stack of Dixie-cup-like bags on a long handle; and when you filled one and pulled it off, another one was ready to use. Again, the bags each had a metal ring and you clamped it down and twisted it and stowed it. Each of the bags already had a number on it."]

[NASA photo KSC-72PC-411 shows Jack examining the LRV Sampler during a final checkout of the Rover prior to stowage on the LM. Training photo 72-H-1227 shows Jack using the sampler from his Rover seat.]

141:24:00 Parker: Okay, Jack.

141:24:02 Schmitt: 22 Echo.

141:24:03 Parker: Roger. Copy that. Did you ever find any sign of that brown, fine-grained rock you saw on the way out to the SEP yesterday?

[Bob is subtly ribbing Gene about a piece of packing material he found at the SEP site at the end of the first EVA and mistook for a piece of brown glass. See comments at 123:03:34 and 123:28:18.]
141:24:10 Cernan: Bob, let me give you some readings, so I can get going.

141:24:11 Parker: Okay. Go ahead, Geno.

141:24:13 Cernan: Okay. Amp hours, 108, 100; volts are 68, 68; batteries are 80 and 102; and motors are all off-scale low. I'm on the way. (Pause) On the way, Jack.

141:24:38 Schmitt: I'm waiting.

141:24:40 Cernan: Oh, there you are over there, huh? (Long Pause)

141:24:54 Parker: And, Jack, how's the rooster tail look on that fender?

141:25:02 Schmitt: Looks like it's going backwards.

[Jack's photo of Gene driving out from the LM is AS17-135- 20541.]
141:25:04 Cernan: I don't see anything coming up over the top.

141:25:05 Schmitt: Looks like a good fix.

141:25:08 Parker: Beautiful. (Pause)

141:25:16 Cernan: Okay, Jack; I got to come around...I'm going to come on this side and head west.

141:25:21 Schmitt: Okay. Watch those...You got the (SEP) antennas?

141:25:24 Cernan: I've got one over here.

[These are the four 35-meter long wires that form the SEP transmitter antenna.]
141:25:26 Schmitt: Okay. I'll give you a line on the other one. (Long Pause)

141:25:47 Cernan: Okay. I'm getting close.

141:25:50 Schmitt: Okay. Turn.

141:25:53 Cernan: Where is it?

141:25:54 Schmitt: Right here. I'm on it.

141:25:55 Cernan: Okay. (Pause) Okay. And I see the other one...Let me (align the Rover) parallel that line.

[There is a burst of static as Gene turns the Rover to head west.]
141:26:13 Parker: Low gain (pointing), Gene, please; after you get stopped.

141:26:24 Cernan: I guess that's about 2 or 3 meters (from the west antenna wire), huh, Jack? You can better see where it is at.

141:26:29 Schmitt: Yeah, that's good, Geno. Okay,...

141:26:34 Cernan: Heading 270.

141:26:35 Schmitt: You want to...

141:26:36 Cernan: Am I ten meters from the transmitter? Probably not, huh?

141:26:39 Schmitt: You're pretty...No, you need to go about 5 meters.

141:26:45 Cernan: How far am I? See if it's okay.

141:26:48 Schmitt: You're about 3 meters...4 meters.

141:26:51 Cernan: Hey, Bob, I'm 3 meters to the west of the transmitter and about 2-1/2 meters south of the line going west. Is that okay?

141:26:57 Parker: There's no problem there, Gene. Don't move. It's just they had to be less than those numbers.

141:27:05 Cernan: Okay. That's where I am.

[Gene needed to park the Rover within ten meters of the transmitter and within 5 meters of the west antenna arm. Once Jack climbs on board, they will drive along the west arm to give the experimenters a calibration reading. At this moment, Jack is taking pictures of the relative positions of the transmitter, the Rover, and the antenna arms at the start of the drive.]

[Schmitt - "The intent here was to drive along the antenna on a constant heading so that the SEP experimenters could have a bit of calibration data that would have been easy to analyze - had the experiment been working. I don't know if it was still working at this point, and we certainly didn't know that until we got the data back to Earth. As I recall, they got a little bit of information on this EVA and, after that, it just got too hot."]

141:27:08 Schmitt: (To Bob) I'm getting your photos.
[AS17-135- 20542 to 20546 document Gene's parking at the SEP transmitter.]

[in frame 20544, note the long track made by the large boulder visible slightly above and to the right of the rake.]

141:27:10 Cernan: Okay; and let me give them a voltage reading, and I'm still reading 68 and 68.

141:27:14 Parker: Okay; copy that. We don't need those, we just got them.

141:27:21 Cernan: I know, I just wanted to keep you honest.

141:27:23 Parker: And give us the Nav numbers.

141:27:27 Cernan: Okay. 265 (bearing), 0.2 (distance), and 0.1 (range).

141:27:34 Parker: We want heading, pitch, roll, and sun dial there, Gene.

RealAudio Clip ( 6 min 54 sec )

141:27:42 Cernan: Okay. I'm sorry, Bob. (Pause) Okay; you want a Nav update here?

141:27:49 Parker: Nav initialize, Geno.

141:27:50 Cernan: (Consulting CDR-9) Yes, sir; you do.

141:27:51 Parker: Roger.

141:27:53 Cernan: Yes, sir; I'm sorry.

141:27:54 Parker: Go to the next (checklist) page.

141:27:56 Cernan: Let me change my (Rover) position here, just a skosh. (Pause) I knew you'd...

[Gene will do the navigation system initialization by pointing the Rover directly away from the Sun. He had parked heading due west and since, the Sun is 12 degrees south of east at this point in the mission, he'll have to turn the Rover to a heading of 282 in order to zero the sun-shadow device.]
141:28:15 Schmitt: Bob, what was that last LRV sample number I gave you?

141:28:18 Parker: Twenty-two Echo, two-two Echo.

141:28:24 Schmitt: 23 Echo, if that followed in sequence, is another rock near the SEP, documented in the same way.

141:28:31 Parker: Okay; copy that.

[These photos are AS17-135-20547 to 20549.]
141:28:34 Cernan: Okay, Bob. 265, 0.3, 0.1; roll is 1 right, pitch is 0, and the sun-shaft device is 0. I'm heading 281 degrees.

141:28:47 Parker: Okay; copy that. Stand by. (Pause)

141:28:56 Schmitt: Okay. The (SEP) recorder is On and the Receive Power switch is on.

141:29:08 Parker: Copy that.

MP3 Audio Clip ( 16 min 35 sec )

141:29:09 Schmitt: (To Gene) And, I guess you're going to hand me EP-4. (I'll) get rid of this (LRV sampler).

[Jack will keep the LRV Sampler within reach, attaching it to the accessory staff. He probably would not be laying it in his seat pan since it would be hard to reach while seated.]
141:29:16 Parker: Okay. 282 is the preferred (meaning "the proper heading") but that's too small (a difference) to bother torquing, Gene; you're good as is. We're ready for you guys to go.
[This difference in heading has the potential of contributing up to a 100 meter southward bias to estimates of the LM location made from Rover readouts at the more distant stations visited during this EVA. This point is discussed in full at 164:48. If Gene did not do the correction - and that point is not crystal clear in the following dialog - all LM bearing readouts given during this EVA should be decreased by one degree.]
141:29:24 Cernan: Okay. That looks good because I have to come left just a skosh there to proceed parallel down the west line.

141:29:30 Parker: Okay. We're ready for you guys to go. We presume you have the SEP photos, Jack.

141:29:39 Schmitt: Yes, I do.

141:29:40 Parker: Okay. And you can give us a frame count, if you want. Remember to pick up EP-4 when you get in the Rover.

141:29:50 Schmitt: Okay. We got it, and the frame count is 17.

141:29:54 Parker: Copy 17 for the LMP, and we need a Nav reset to verify there, Gene.

141:30:03 Cernan: I did Nav reset; I'm reading all balls. And it is back off.

141:30:06 Parker: Okay. And did you happen to check the SEP temperature when you turned it on, Gene? (Correcting himself) Jack? The receiver?

141:30:15 Schmitt: No. I didn't; I didn't. Doubt if it changed much since I called you.

141:30:20 Parker: Okay. We'll catch it at Station 2.

141:30:25 Cernan: Okay, Jack, we got transmitter and receiver both on, huh?

141:30:25 Parker: Okay. Low gain antenna is 240 and we're ready for you guys to leave. Give us a mark on the leave.

[A sketch map of the initial portion of the traverse is shown (identically) on LMP-8 and CDR-8. The average heading during the first six kilometers of the traverse will be 260 degrees, ten degrees south of west. As discussed previously, there is an offset in the low-gain antenna's pointing indicator to compensate for the Earth's position in the local sky and, therefore, the reason for the 240 degree pointing - rather than 260 - is not obvious. They also are carrying a more detailed cronopaque map, based on Apollo 15 photography, with a contour map on the back.]
141:30:33 Cernan: Okay. Here you go, Jack; we need...The SEP receiver and transmitter (are) both on, huh?

141:30:40 Schmitt: Yes, sir.

141:30:42 Parker: Okay. And, Gene, remember we want a mark when you pass the end of the antenna.

141:30:50 Cernan: Okay.

141:30:52 Schmitt: Gonna drive fairly slowly, huh?

141:30:54 Cernan: Yep, until I get past the end. I got to get my heading changed about 10 degrees to parallel it. We're still in the same relative position, Bob.

141:31:00 Parker: Okay. Very good.

141:31:04 Cernan: Okay. We are moving right now.

141:31:07 Parker: Okay. We're marking that.

141:31:09 Cernan: Slowly. (Long Pause) Okay. Stand by, Bob.

141:31:43 Cernan: Mark it.

141:31:44 Parker: Okay. Copy that.

[Gene has driven about 32 meters along the antenna arm in about 40 seconds. His average speed, therefore, was a bit over 4 kph. During the drive toward the LM, Jack takes AS17-135- 20550 and 20551, the latter showing a large, partially buried boulder northeast of the spacecraft.]
141:31:49 Cernan: Okay. We want to go past the LM at heading 260, Jack.

141:31:51 Schmitt: Well, we want to get at 080 (bearing) and 0.4 (range) and get rid of this charge.

[Details of the initial stage of the traverse are given (identically) on LMP-9 and CDR-9.]
141:31:56 Parker: Okay, 17, a couple of words there as you drive along. Let me give them to you early here. One, we didn't bother to change all the numbers on the checklist; but, by and large, because we think we're 200 meters east of where we were (planning to land), you should probably increase all those numbers except for the explosive package numbers by about two-tenths to get the distance at which you will come across these areas. Again it's about 0.4 (or) 0.5 (km) that we expect to deploy EP-4. The more important number though is that it's 0.2 west of the ALSEP. As you pass the ALSEP, you might note what the range and distance are reading at that point.
[It is possible that Houston is now giving credence to Ron Evans' sighting of the area lightened by the LM descent plume. Houston's estimate of the landing point is quite good considering the sparse information available at this point in the mission. Rover navigation data at well-defined stops during this traverse will be used to refine the estimate. See the discussion after 164:48:12.]
141:32:35 Schmitt: Okay. Range is the one that changes on...No, wait a minute.

141:32:40 Cernan: I got it. I'll get it.

141:32:42 Schmitt: Which is it? Range changes every half...on the half kilometer?

141:32:46 Cernan: Yep. (Pause) Distance.

141:32:52 Cernan: Let me go around your (garbled).

141:32:52 Parker: Roger, Jack. The range is what changes in the middle at 50 meters and 150 meters.

[The Rover has digital indicators for bearing, distance driven, and range. The range indicator changes from 000 to 001 at 50 meters, to 002 at 150 meters, and so on. The distance indicator changes at 100m, 200m, and so on.]
141:32:59 Schmitt: Okay. The fender fix is working so far.

141:33:02 Parker: Beautiful.

141:33:04 Cernan: Let me get around your flag. There's your flag way out there, isn't it?

[This is the flag marking the southernmost geophone that Jack deployed during the first EVA.]
141:33:08 Schmitt: Yeah.

141:33:10 Cernan: (To Jack) Let me get around that. Man, that's really giving the ALSEP some room.

[Jack's three traverse photos taken during this interval are AS17-135-20552 to 20554. They show some large boulders south of Geophone rock.]
141:33:12 Schmitt: Yeah. Okay, Bob; we're still seeing the light-colored gabbroic rocks. I think the reason I said 50 percent (plagioclase) was because, in this light, they look light-colored, and that's probably largely because of the zap-pit halos.

141:33:27 Parker: Okay. I copy that, Jack.

141:33:29 Schmitt: In the hand lens, it looked like a standard gabbro.

141:33:32 Parker: Okay.

141:33:33 Cernan: And, Bob, I'm full out at about 11...

141:33:37 Schmitt: Okay, you can turn right, now.

[Gene has been driving more or less south to get around the geophone and will now turn west.]
141:33:38 Cernan: I'm full out at about 11 clicks (11 kilometers per hour) right now.

141:33:39 Parker: Beautiful.

141:33:41 Schmitt: Oops. You drove (garbled under Bob).

141:33:46 Parker: Can you give me a call as you pass by the ALSEP as you get ready to deploy the charge, please?

141:33:53 Schmitt: Okay. We're almost due south of the ALSEP now.

141:33:59 Parker: Okay,...

141:34:00 Cernan: (Garbled under Bob) got to work my way through here.

141:34:00 Parker: ...copy that. Go about 0.2 kilometers further than that. (Pause)

[Jack's eight traverse photos taken during this drive west to the charge deployment site are AS17-135-20555 to 20562.]
141:34:11 Schmitt: (To Gene) It's a little rocky out here.

141:34:12 Cernan: Yeah, it sure is.

141:34:14 Schmitt: In the area we are now...Did you get a distance? That was...

141:34:20 Cernan: Okay. We just clicked to (zero-zero)-four. I want to move over this way just a skosh.

141:34:24 Schmitt: Yeah. Okay, (we're) just south of my geophone 2 flag now.

141:34:31 Parker: Okay. If you just clicked to 4, let's go to 6 then, just past the click on 6.

[That is, at a range of 550 meters.]
141:34:40 Cernan: Okay. And they want about (a bearing to the SEP transmitter of) 080. (Pause)

141:34:46 Cernan: Plenty good enough. I got to start heading right out here, right toward my topographic...

141:34:50 Schmitt: Okay. Hole-in-the-Wall should be just to the left of the notch (in the rim of Camelot).

141:34:51 Cernan: Yep. That's exactly where I'm heading.

RealAudio Clip ( 6 min 6 sec )

141:34:55 Schmitt: And I think we're coming up closer to the rim of Camelot. It's starting to look like a crater now.

141:35:00 Parker: Okay; very good.

[Schmitt - "The drive up to the Camelot rim was a very gradual climb, unlike Cone Crater on Apollo 14 which was a crater on a knoll. The LM was probably on the ejecta blanket of Camelot, so it would have been hard to judge a change in slope. Generally, the terrain here was much flatter than on either Apollo 14 or Apollo 16, which were the highland sites. The average (vertical) variation at our site was perhaps a meter or a meter and a half; and there's one picture of the LM, taken looking back into the Sun, and there is a little low ridge blocking out the lower part of the LM."]

[Jack is probably thinking of AS17-145-22185, which he takes at the end of the EVA from down in the swale west of the LM.]

141:35:01 Schmitt: Looking down-Sun, I see no major albedo changes except for the very fresh craters which are brighter. By maybe 20 percent. The surface...

141:35:16 Cernan: How are we doing?

141:35:17 Schmitt: (0.)5.

141:35:18 Cernan: Okay, Bob. Here's your charge. Pick a spot, Jack.

141:35:22 Schmitt: Okay; can you swing right out over there...

141:35:25 Cernan: Yeah.

141:35:26 Schmitt: ...about 10 meters ahead?

141:35:27 Cernan: Okay.

141:35:28 Schmitt: Give me a shallow turn. (Pause)

141:35:31 Cernan: How's that?

141:35:32 Schmitt: Okay. And I'll set it right there in that...Can you move forward, and I'll get it in that little depression.

141:35:37 Cernan: Okay.

141:35:38 Schmitt: You see on the other side of the rock.

141:35:41 Cernan: Yeah. (Pause) Okay, Bob; 083, 0.6, and 0.5.

141:35:53 Parker: Okay. Copy that.

[The SEP transmitter is seven degrees north of east from their current position and at a range of 450 to 550 meters. They are probably close to the upper figure because the distance reading is 600 meters. Because they have been driving around craters, this figure should be reduced by about ten percent, indicating that their straight-line distance is at least 540 meters.]
141:35:57 Schmitt: Okay. Pin 1 is pulled and safe; Pin 2 is pulled and safe; Pin 3. pulled and safe. Ever stop and ask yourself what I'm doing (pulling pins on an explosives charge)!?

141:36:14 Parker: I copy that, Jack...

141:36:15 Cernan: Yes (laughter).

[Schmitt - "The seismic charges had an Apollo Standard Initiator (ASI), which was the pyrotechnic initiator they used for everything - for any kind of explosive bolt initiation, for instance. It was hooked up to a radio receiver and, at 90 hours, the timer moved a metal window from between that initiator and the charge. For half an hour after the window opened, the ground could send a signal to set off the initiator and, therefore, the charge. And, if it hadn't gone off in the half hour, then the window would close again and that would be the end of it. All of them actually did go off but, if they hadn't, they would have been safe sitting up there when the people from the Smithsonian went to collect them sometime in the future."]
141:36:16 Parker: ...If you can give us a frame count, we'd appreciate it. And I might remind you two to both check that...

141:36:23 Cernan: Don't fall over!

141:36:23 Parker: ...you're at Min cooling since you've got a long drive ahead of you there.

[Training photo 72-H-1411 shows back-up LMP Charlie Duke deploying a charge from his Rover seat.]

[Cernan - "Jack had to lean over to get the charge on the ground. Of course, we were riding low to the ground, but he had to reach to get the charge outside the fenders and sometimes he probably grabbed the antenna on the charge to set it down. Then, when we started up again, I had to be very careful not to run into the charge and knock it over. With the front-and-rear, Ackerman steering, if you turned left away from the charge, rather than the rear wheels dragging, the rear wheels were going to turn right and maybe hit the charge; so I'd turn right to avoid it."]

141:36:29 Schmitt: Hey, I lost my sample thing.
[Apparently, the head of the LRV sampler has come off. They'd had trouble getting it on during the Geo Prep at the ALSEP site.]
141:36:31 Cernan: (Garbled) on the floor?

141:36:32 Schmitt: I hope so. (Pause)

[Because of the stiffness of the suit and the bulk of the RCU and the camera blocking his view of his feet, Jack has no chance of looking for the sampler without getting off the Rover. Gene can see parts of Jack's foot pan, but not all of it.]
141:36:43 Cernan: (Asking about the charge placement) That look good?

141:36:44 Schmitt: Yeah, it's going to stay.

141:36:47 Cernan: Okay. Have you got anything (garbled). If not, I'll do a partial for you.

[Gene is suggesting that he turn the Rover in a slow circle so that Jack can take a sequence of photos for a partial pan. This technique was invented by Young and Duke during their second Apollo 16 EVA.]
141:36:52 Schmitt: Yeah. We got to do a partial. I'd like to know where that sampler is. Well, we can do without it, I guess.

141:37:01 Cernan: Well, it's sure be nice to...What did it do; come off the end?

141:37:03 Schmitt: Yeah, I think I can check it though.

141:37:05 Cernan: Getting your (photographic) pan?

141:37:06 Schmitt: Yeah. (Pause) If you go around to seeing that big block there by the ALSEP, then you can forget it.

[Jack is telling Gene that, once they are pointed at Geophone Rock, they will have finished the partial pan. The pan photos are AS17-135-20563 to 20569. The last of these, 20569, shows the large blocks south of Geophone rock that Gene drove around to avoid Geophone 4.]
141:37:13 Cernan: Okay. Okay. I'll just come on around, and I'll pick up my tracks. Do you want to get that sampler? Can you see it?

141:37:21 Schmitt: I think I'd better look.

141:37:25 Cernan: All right. Take a look. Bob, one stop here for about 2 seconds.

141:37:30 Schmitt: Hold this (UHT).

141:37:30 Parker: Okay. Copy that.

[Jack dismounts. The handle of the LRV sampler is one of the Universal Handling Tools (UHT's) that they used during the ALSEP deployment. Training photo 72-H-1227 shows Jack using the sampler from his Rover seat.]
141:37:37 Schmitt: Okay. It's down there.

141:37:38 Cernan: Why don't you put it on real quick and...

141:37:40 Schmitt: I don't know why...It was hard to put on. Surprised it came off.

141:37:45 Cernan: Here, let me hold the end.

141:37:48 Schmitt: You got them retracted?

[Jack is referring to the retractable locking pins in the handle; Gene is probably holding the UHT, working the trigger.]
141:37:52 Cernan: Retracted. (Pause) Still retracted; let me know when.

141:37:58 Schmitt: Okay.

141:37:59 Cernan: Okay. It's loose. Retracted. How you want it?

141:38:04 Schmitt: Retract it again.

141:38:05 Cernan: Okay. Retracted. (Pause)

141:38:09 Schmitt: No...Let go, let go...No, it's just not hooking.

141:38:12 Cernan: Okay. Try it...Push it in once more.

141:38:15 Schmitt: Okay. The best I can do. I'll just lock...I'll twist it down on there and maybe it'll hold.

141:38:20 Cernan: Okay. Twist it tight. (Pause) I got the rod. (Pause)

[Jack seems to be twisting the UHT into the sampler head.]
141:38:32 Schmitt: Okay. I'll just have to be careful.

141:38:34 Cernan: Okay. I've got it (probably Jack's seatbelt).

141:38:35 Schmitt: (Garbled).

141:38:36 Cernan: I've got it.

141:38:39 Schmitt: Okay.

141:38:41 Cernan: You'll have to put it in. Push down.

141:38:46 Schmitt: Okay. (Pause)

141:38:50 Schmitt: Ah!

141:38:52 Cernan: Okay; let's go. (Pause) Every time you pick your seatbelt up...Here it is, it's untwisted now. (Pause) Okay?

141:39:04 Schmitt: Okay.

141:39:05 Cernan: All set?

141:39:07 Schmitt: Just about. (Pause)

141:39:10 Parker: Okay, Jack, a reminder. We're still seeing you in Intermediate. You probably will want to go to Min before you get back on.

141:39:18 Cernan: He's back on now.

141:39:19 Schmitt: I'm in now.

141:39:20 Cernan: And we're rolling.

141:39:22 Parker: Okay, copy. You're moving.

141:39:23 Schmitt: Okay. Let's go to Hole-in-the-Wall. (Answering Bob) Yes, sir.

141:39:27 Parker: Okay. One other thing I might mention to you guys as you're driving here, Jack, before you start talking again, is that, as you go by Camelot, you might keep an eye out for blocks along the rim there, because, remember, we may be wanting to come back and move Station 5 to an area where there's blocks, unless there are blocks at the present, nominal Station 5. So you might keep an eye for that and plan for the way back. A second thing, a reminder: if you do stop for a Rover sample or one thing or another along the way, give us a call and keep us informed, because we're timing you on the way out and the assumption is, of course, that driving time out equals drive-back time. And we're under a 63-minute limit to get you from the LM out to the Station 2 because of OPS drive-back. So, keep us informed so we can keep a good tab.

[Schmitt - "In the pre-mission photos we could only see the very largest boulders and I don't think we could see any around Camelot. And we couldn't have seen any out that far from the LM."]

[A 2x-expanded detail from a pre-flight map made from the best Apollo 15 images shows the area around Camelot. There are two blocks marked on the north rim and one on the east rim. The outlined, light-colored areas on the west rim were possible locations for boulders. Station 5 was planned for the southwest rim, subject to change depending on what Gene and Jack found as the drove by on the way to Station 2.]

141:40:13 Schmitt: Okay, Bob. Okay. We'll keep you informed.

141:40:18 Cernan: Bob, I got the thing "two-blocked", and I'm averaging probably 10 to 11 clicks. It's not exactly straight-line navigation, but I think I can hold most of it.

141:40:29 Parker: Roger. Beautiful.

[Cernan - "I don't remember if 'two-blocked' is an old Navy term or what. But it means 'I've got it all the way out, hell bent for fire.'"]

[Journal Contributor Dean Eppler adds, "I believe 'two blocked' refers to the use of a two-pulley block-and-tackle, as was often used on sailing ships. When you pull out sufficient slack that the two blocks are drawn together, you can't pull any more out, and are "two-blocked," or have gone to the absolute limit. Hence Gene's use of the phrase when describing the LRV at max throttle."

141:40:31 Schmitt: Watch the crater. There you go.

141:40:34 Parker: And, Jack, a reminder...

141:40:36 Schmitt: I tell you, when Gene decides to turn...Whoo!

[Schmitt - "We were driving down-Sun and that made craters hard to see despite the relatively level terrain."]

[Cernan - "One of the advantages of being the Commander and driving the Rover was that you knew when you were going to turn. It's just like what might happen if I took you on an airplane and did some acrobatics. I would know what I was doing and could anticipate the maneuvers, but you might start feeling uncomfortable, not being prepared, unless I really tried to talk you through everything."]

141:40:41 Parker: And, Jack, a reminder on photos. Yesterday, you apparently took quite a few on the way back from Station 1 to the SEP, and we're right nominal on budget now. But, considering the fact that we didn't do much sampling, if you continue to use them at the rate you did yesterday coming back from Station 1, at least as we understand it, you'll be pushing us pretty hard in the (film) budget. Should be every 50 meters or every 100 meters.

RealAudio Clip ( 4 min 31 sec )

141:41:04 Schmitt: Bob, okay. And you want to hear something?

141:41:07 Parker: Roger. I'll listen now. (Pause)

141:41:13 Schmitt: Okay. The surface is not changing in terms of the detail. The surface texture of the fine-grained regolith still has the raindrop pattern. The blocks still look very much like what we sampled yesterday around the LM. They're light-colored, apparently gabbros, with zap pits...(correcting himself) zap halos. Occasional craters show lighter colored ejecta; (that is, craters) all the way down to, say, half a meter in size. Other craters that are just as blocky as those with bright halos have no brightness associated with them. Most of the brightest craters have a little central pit in the bottom which is glass lined. The pit is, maybe, a fifth of the diameter of the crater itself. It's a fairly standard thing for most of these fresher craters, is that little central pit.

[The raindrop pattern that Jack is describing is caused by micrometeor impacts and looks rather like the pattern a light rain makes on dry, dusty ground. Jack's nineteen photos taken during the drive to Camelot are AS17-135-20570 to 20588. Frame 20586 shows the Scarp as they top a high point east of the Camelot rim.]
141:42:20 Schmitt: Okay, we're just south of the (east) rim of Camelot.

141:42:23 Cernan: There is a light mantle on the other side. Look at that crater. Whoo!

141:42:28 Schmitt: We've got the...Ooh, and there's Camelot.

[Jack's first photo of Camelot AS17-135-20588. The large group of boulders where they will do Station 5 at the end of the EVA is beyond the piece of the high-gain assembly that extends diagonally into the picture from the left.
141:42:30 Cernan: Oh, Whoo! Manischewitz. Take a couple of pictures looking at that.

141:42:34 Schmitt: Okay. Can you swing a little?

141:42:35 Cernan: Yep.

[Gene turns the Rover so that Jack can take photos of Camelot without having to twist his body. Jack's photos of the crater interior are AS17-135-20589 and 20590.]

[These initial Camelot photos are combined in strip form with a set Jack takes as they drive along the rim - 20589 to 20597.]

141:42:36 Schmitt: Okay, I got them.

141:42:38 Cernan: That is a 600-meter crater!

141:42:40 Schmitt: Okay. And it is very blocky...

141:42:42 Parker: Hey, how about a bearing and range there to help us pick out the LM, also.

141:42:45 Schmitt: ...We won't have any problem finding blocks on the rim of Camelot.

141:42:48 Parker: Rog. How about bearing and range to help us pick out the LM location.

141:42:50 Cernan: Okay. 083, 1.2, and 1.0.

141:42:52 Parker: Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

141:42:53 Schmitt: Bob, listen.

[Jack is a little frustrated with Bob's interruptions. Both Jack and Bob, once they start talking, tend to charge ahead and, consequently, talk over each other more than would have been the case with, for example, Gordon Fullerton or Joe Allen as CapCom and, say, Al Bean (Apollo 12) or Jim Irwin (Apollo 15) as the LMP.]

[Cernan - "Bob and Jack were always bantering back and forth, from training right on through the flight. Although it was all meant in fun and they both had a sort of subtle sense of humor, the interruptions did sometimes bother Jack, particularly when he had something he felt was important to say."]

[The traverse started from the SEP transmitter at 141:30:33. In 12 minutes 17 seconds, Gene has driven 1.2 km and is now at a range from the SEP of 1.0 kilometers. His average speed, including the stop to deploy the first charge, is about 5.9 km/hr and his range rate - the rate at which the range is changing - is 4.9 km/hr. Because Gene's average heading has been directly away from the SEP transmitter, the difference between his average speed and range rate is due to the need to drive around craters.]

141:42:55 Schmitt: Okay. There's a little...

141:43:03 Cernan: Man, are there blocks there.

[Gene has turned south and the crater Jack describes next may be the one shown in AS17-135-20591.]
141:43:07 Schmitt: Now that little crater in the ejecta did not...(in the ejecta) of Camelot - at least the rim of Camelot - did not bring up blocks on the rim. It may have been (an impact in) an old depression.

141:43:25 Schmitt: Bob, there is (an) extremely blocky area. I think (the planned) Station 5 (location) was over there where that block area is.

[Jack is referring to the large group of boulders on right side of AS17-135-20592. Note that Gene is on a heading south of the one to Hole-in-the Wall as he skirts the boulder field. In the next of Jack's traverse photos, 20593 we see that Gene has steered even farther to the south to get around the boulders.]
141:43:41 Schmitt: The light-colored areas on the (overhead) photos are essentially blocky. They're probably 30 percent (covered with) blocks. Many of them are in the 2- to 3- to 4-meter size range. All of them look light-colored (and, from a distance), look like the gabbro we sampled. They have light-halo zap pits on them. I see only occasional grayer varieties, which I believe are the nonvesicular ones like we also sampled.

141:43:58 Parker: Okay. Copy that, Jack. Very good.

141:44:00 Schmitt: But the light-colored gabbros are dominant.

141:44:03 Parker: Thank you.

[Frame AS17-135-20594 shows Gene driving on a more westerly heading as he skirts the Station 5 boulder field.]
141:44:07 Schmitt: Okay. Station 5 would have been - rather than in a light-colored area - would have been in a very blocky area. Station 5 is probably still very good for blocks.

141:44:19 Parker: Okay. Thank you.

[Schmitt - "The light-colored areas on the rim of Camelot turned out to be that way because of reflections off of all of the rocky material, rather from an albedo difference of the soil. And it may be that the regolith on the west side was shallower for some reason, so that more blocks were dug out there."]
141:44:21 Schmitt: There is probably as big blocks there as anywhere on the rim that we've seen.

141:44:27 Parker: Copy that.

[In frame AS17-135-20595, the boulders on the right are near the southwest rim of Camelot. Gene has now resumed a heading toward Hole-in-the-Wall.]

[Frames 20596 and 20597 show progressively fewer blocks as they get father from Camelot.]

141:44:28 Schmitt: Okay. We ought to be going between Horatio and Camelot now.
[As indicated on Gene's cuff checklist page 8 he plans to continue on a heading toward Hole-in-the-Wall and pass immediately south of Horatio which he will do, as indicated in a detail from Figure 6-3 in the Apollo 17 Preliminary Science Report. Jack's statement probably means " we've left Camelot and are going toward Horatio" rather than "going between" in the sense of heading northwest and having Camelot on the right and Horatio on the left. They will cover that ground during the return drive from Victory.]

[Jack's next nine traverse photos, taken once they get out of the Camelot block fields, are AS17-135-20598 to 20606.]

141:44:32 Cernan: No. I'm going to give them a call when we're due south of Camelot and see if they can't get a position on us. (Pause) Hold it, Jack.

141:44:39 Schmitt: Ooh, watch it.

141:44:40 Cernan: Hold it; hold it.

141:44:41 Schmitt: You can go around that one.

141:44:44 Cernan: You betcha. (Jack laughs) Whoo! That slowed the speed up a little bit. You can unwrinkle your toes now.

141:44:52 Schmitt: Okay. Oh. I wasn't worried, Gene. Watch that block there; it's probably more than 14 inches (the Rover clearance). And I got a fairly close look at the rock, and it is the vesicular...(It) looks very much like the vesicular clinopyroxene (a magnesium/iron/silicate mineral) gabbro.

141:45:10 Parker: Thank you.

[Schmitt - "The presence of vesicles usually imply that the rock solidified in the top of a lava flow where the cooling is quick enough to temporarily trap the gas that makes the vesicles. The inner parts of the flow don't cool that fast and the gas usually has a chance to escape. And what I was trying to do at Camelot was try to see how many flows the crater might have penetrated. Was there just one flow top, or several? I don't think we really had the time to do that, even when we got back to Camelot at the end of the EVA; but if you could get out and walk around, that's what you would try to do."]
141:45:11 Schmitt: Now, the surface of Camelot is mantled - or the rim - is mantled with the same dark-gray material, and it has the same surface texture: a very fine raindrop pattern. The saturation crater size does not look bigger than a half a meter, if that.
[Schmitt - "I was trying to estimate the largest size of crater that had formed everywhere on the surface. And that's roughly a function of age. Because bigger impactors are relatively rare, the older the surface, the larger the saturation crater size."]
141:45:30 Cernan: Okay, Bob, I'm going to give you 081, 1.6, and 1.4. We're south of the center of Camelot.

141:45:36 Parker: Okay. Thank you, Gene.

[They are about 140 meters south of where they will do Station 5 at the end of the EVA.]
MP3 Audio Clip ( 13 min 30 sec )

141:45:39 Schmitt: One crater...(Stops to listen to Bob) Okay. We ought to see Horatio here pretty quick.

141:45:46 Cernan: I think it's right up in front of us.

141:45:48 Schmitt: Yeah, I think you're right. (Pause)

 

Preparations for EVA-2 Apollo 17 Journal Camelot to Station 2