Which Apollo mission was the last one in NASA's Apollo program?

The story behind the answer

Apollo 17 was the final mission of NASA’s Apollo program, launching December 7, 1972. It marked the last human Moon landing and the last time humans traveled beyond low Earth orbit. Commander Eugene Cernan and geologist-astronaut Harrison “Jack” Schmitt spent about 75 hours on the lunar surface, collected the most samples of any mission, and conducted extensive geology fieldwork, while Ronald Evans orbited above. It was also Apollo’s only night launch.

Budget cuts and shifting priorities led NASA to cancel Apollos 18–20, making 17 the program’s farewell. Remember it this way: Apollo 11 was the first landing, Apollo 13 was the “successful