Vintage space treasures from the Project Apollo Archive (pictures)

This beautiful photograph of Africa was taken during the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972.

The crescent Earth, seen from Apollo 16, in orbit around the moon in April 1972.

Engineer Wally Schirra, on board the Apollo 7 mission in October 1968.

The expended Saturn IVB stage, photographed from the Apollo 7 spacecraft in October 1968.

The Apollo 9 Command/Service Modules, photographed from the Lunar Module in March 1969.

The Apollo 17 Lunar Rover, December 1972.

An astronaut casts a long shadow on his first Extra Vehicular Activity, Apollo 17, December 1972.

The famous "Earthrise" photo, taken by astronaut William Anders of the Apollo 8 mission, December 1968.

Crater snapped from lunar orbit aboard the Apollo 12 spacecraft in November 1969.

The Earth captured while en route to the moon, Apollo 11, July 1969.

Apollo 11's lunar module, July 1969.

Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, the second man to set foot on the moon, photographed in the Apollo 11 spacecraft, July 1969.

The third EVA of Apollo 17 and the last of the Apollo program, December 13, 1972. No one has set foot on the moon since.

Astronaut footprints on the lunar surface photographed during the Apollo 12 mission, November 1969.

This photograph from Apollo 17 demonstrates quite neatly the lack of colour on the lunar surface. December 1972.