December 7: historical facts and curiosities

On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a devastating surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This unprovoked assault, resulting in over 2,400 American casualties and significant damage to the Pacific Fleet, was a pivotal event. It directly prompted the United States' declaration of war on Japan the following day, bringing the U.S. into World War II and fundamentally altering the global conflict's trajectory.

On December 7, 1972, NASA launched Apollo 17, the eleventh and final mission of the Apollo program to land humans on the Moon. Commanded by Gene Cernan, with Ronald Evans and Harrison Schmitt, it holds the record for the longest moon landing (75 hours) and the largest lunar sample return (110.5 kg). Schmitt was the first scientist (geologist) to walk on the Moon, marking a phase of intense scientific exploration. The mission also left us the iconic 'Blue Marble' photograph of Earth.