River Grove in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Apollo Test Capsule

[Full Size]

Photographed by Sean Flynn

1. Apollo Test Capsule Marker

Inscription. This full-size replica of an Apollo capsule, designated BP-213, never flew in space or carried an astronaut, but it did provide an important service to NASA. Boilerplate capsules like this have the same dimensions and weight distribution as a fully operational spacecraft, but it is actually a dummy object. NASA and the U.S. Navy used it to practice ocean recovery during the 1960's.

Erected by Triton College Cernan Earth and Space Center.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical year for this entry is 1960.

Location. 41° 55.037′ N, 87° 50.536′ W. Marker is in River Grove, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on 5th Avenue. The missile along with a nearby Nike Tomahawk Missile are in front of the Cernan Earth and Space Center, on the campus of Triton College. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: River Grove IL 60171, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

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and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Nike Tomahawk Missile (a few steps from this marker); Triton Botanical Gardens (approx. 0.2 miles away); Veterans Memorial Park (approx. half a mile away); Korean War Memorial (approx. ¾ mile away); River Grove World War II Memorial (approx. ¾ mile away); Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Rock Che-Che-Pin-Qua (approx. 0.8 miles away); History (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in River Grove.

Regarding Apollo Test Capsule. Eugene Cernan, a native of Chicago who grew up in nearby Bellwood and Maywood and attended Proviso Township High School (now Proviso East), was the commander of the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972, the most recent mission in which men walked on the moon. Cernan was the 11th person to walk on the moon and, as the last person to enter the moon lander on the Apollo 17 mission, is also currently the

Apollo Test Capsule and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 30, 2023

2. Apollo Test Capsule and Marker

most recent person to have walked on the moon. Cernan died in 2017 at the age of 82 and is buried at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas.

Also see . . .
1. NASA: Apollo 17 Mission Details. Crew: Eugene A. Cernan, Commander; Harrison H. Schmitt, Lunar Module Pilot; Ronald E. Evans, Command Module Pilot (Submitted on October 31, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. NASA: Former Astronaut Eugene A. Cernan.

Excerpt from NASA: "Captain Cernan was one of fourteen astronauts selected by NASA in October 1963. Captain Cernan was the second American to have walked in space having spanned the circumference of the world twice in a little more than 2-1/2 hours. He was one of the two men to have flown to the moon on two occasions, and as commander of the last mission to the moon, Apollo 17, had the privilege and distinction of being the last man to have left his footprints on the surface of the moon. Up until his death he was passionate about space exploration and hoped he would not remain the last man to walk on the Moon."

(Submitted on October 31, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 30, 2023

3. Apollo Test Capsule Marker

Eugene A. Cernan (1934-2017) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Nasa

4. Eugene A. Cernan (1934-2017)

Cernan salutes the flag on the moon image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of NASA, December 1972

5. Cernan salutes the flag on the moon

Gene Cernan is photographed with the American flag on the surface of the moon, at the Taurus-Littrow landing site.

Apollo Test Capsule image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of NASA, circa July 1968

6. Apollo Test Capsule

A 1968 photo of a NASA test capsule being used by the crew of Apollo 7, before their mission later that year.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 31, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 396 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 31, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.