Colonization of the Moon the Apollo 12 mission landed next to the Surveyor 3 spacecraft, demonstrating precision landing capability. The use of a manned vehicle on the Moon's surface was demonstrated in 1971 with the Lunar Rover during Apollo 15. Apollo 16 made the first landing within the rugged lunar highlands. However, interest in further exploration of the Moon was beginning to wane among the American public. In 1972, Apollo 17 was the final Apollo lunar mission, and further planned missions were scrapped at the directive of President Nixon. Instead, focus was turned to the Space Shuttle and crewed missions in near Earth orbit.
12 to the Moon points out that the earth-saving eruption of Popocatepetl is "depicted by stock footage of solar prominences" that bear little resemblance to real volcanic eruptions. Modern critics are also bothered by the narrative development of the film. Westphal says that "Few films ... begin as soberly, and end as absurdly, as "12 to the Moon". The film's first thirty minutes promise an internationalized update of "Destination Moon" [1950], while later events rival a Flash Gordon serial". Senn agrees that the film is disappointing, noting that "What starts out as a fairly intelligent and progressive space-travel film ... quickly degenerates into a