" As I take man ' s last step from the surface , back home for some time to come - but we believe not to long into the future . .. I ' d just like to ( say ) what I believe history will record , that America ' s challenge of today has forged man ' s destiny of tomorrow , and as we leave the moon at Taurus - Littrow , we leave as we came , and God willing , as we shall return , with peace and hope for all mankind . Godspeed , the crew of Apollo 17 . "