Shortly after deployment, Cernan drove the Lunar Roving Vehicle through a series of maneuvers to check out the performance of the vehicle. The LRV would then loaded with tools, experiment hardware, a TV camera, and antennas. South Massif, the crest of which is 2,500 meters above the valley floor, forms the skyline 5 kilometers behind the LM. The bands of dark gray are LRV tracks; bootprints in the lunar surface are visible near the right margin of the photograph. (NASA SP-330, p. 4.13). Schmitt also tried to frame the Earth in this beautiful picture of the arrival of the crew at Taurus-Littrow; but it was too high in the lunar sky over the South Massif to fit in the image.

From the mission transcript when the photograph was taken: 117:49:00 Schmitt: Let me move back. Okay? 117:49:06 Cernan: How’s the timeline, Bob? 117:49:11 Parker (Mission Control): As far as I can tell, you guys are right on within a minute or two. 117:49:17 Schmitt: The Earth’s just a little high for me, Geno. 117:49:19 Cernan: Okay. 117:49:21 Schmitt: I’m not sure I can get it without getting way away. 117:49:23 Cernan: Okay. Don’t worry. 117:49:26 Schmitt: Somebody said it (Earth) was going to be just behind the South Massif. (Laughs).