Soon after completing their preparations for landing and just over two hours following the LM's undocking from the CSM, Cernan and Schmitt began their descent to the Taurus–Littrow valley on the lunar surface with the ignition of the Lunar Module's descent propulsion system (DPS) engine. Approximately ten minutes later, as planned, the LM pitched over, giving Cernan and Schmitt their first look at the landing site during the descent phase and allowing Cernan to guide the spacecraft to a desirable landing target while Schmitt provided data from the flight computer essential for landing. The LM touched down on the lunar surface at 2:55 p.m. EST on December 11, just over twelve minutes after DPS ignition. Challenger landed about east of the planned landing point. Shortly thereafter, the two astronauts began re-configuring the LM for their stay on the surface and began preparations for the first moonwalk of the mission, or EVA-1.
sOON AFtEr coMpLEting THeir prepAraTions For laNDINg and JuST over tWo hours FoLLOwiNg The LM'S unDoCkinG froM thE Csm, CerNaN AND SChmItt begAn thEiR DEscent to tHE tAuRuS–Littrow VALleY oN the lunaR SurfacE WIth ThE IgnItion OF thE LUnar mOdUlE's desCent proPulsioN sYSTem (dps) engIne. APproxiMaTely TeN mINuTeS lATer, As PlANnEd, thE Lm PITcHED OveR, GiVinG cerNan and scHmitT theiR first Look aT tHe lAnDiNg sITe duRinG the dEsCeNt phase and AlLowing cernan tO guide The sPacEcrAFT to a desirAble landinG Target wHile SchMitT provideD datA froM THe FLight COMputEr esseNtIAL For Landing. tHe Lm toucHEd dowN on THe lUNAR surfaCE at 2:55 p.m. est on deCember 11, Just OVEr tweLve MiNUTes aFtER Dps igNItIoN. cHallenger landed ABout East OF the PLAnned LaNDInG poiNt. sHoRTlY therEAfTer, The Two ASTronauTs begaN RE-cOnfIGURiNg ThE lM for TheIR Stay on tHe surface aNd bEgan PreparatIOns FOr thE fiRSt moonWaLk oF thE MissIoN, OR eva-1.