The Apollo Missions

The Apollo Missions were part of the Apollo Program, which began in 1961. The ultimate goal of the program was to land a man on the moon. It was originally conceived during the Eisenhower administration but it was John F. Kennedy that made the announcement that the program would begin. It was a follow-up to the Mercury capsule spacecraft that could only support one astronaut. The goal of the Apollo missions was to develop spacecraft that could carry at least three astronauts.

Unmanned missions conducted many experiments and tests. Saturn carried out some of these flights as well as the first six Apollo flights. These were essential to ensure that all conditions could be taken into consideration for the safety and security of the astronauts that would take part in the program.

Three have been many Apollo flights, and although the most famous one was Apollo 11, which did land men on the moon, all the missions were important for the information and technology each one added to the program.

Apollo 7: This was the first manned Apollo mission. It made 163 orbits of the Earth in 1968 and carried three astronauts.

Apollo 8: This spacecraft looped around the moon on Christmas Eve of 1968.

Apollo 9: In March 1969, this spacecraft was the first manned test of a lunar module. It made 151 orbits of the Earth.

Apollo 10: In May 1969, this spacecraft orbited the moon and came within 9 miles of the surface of the moon. The information gained through this orbit was essential for the landing flight so that the scientists would know what the surface of the moon looked like.

Apollo 11: This was the first lunar landing in which the first man walked on the moon and took core samples of the soil to bring back to Earth.

Apollo 12: This spacecraft was struck by lightning

Apollo 13: The oxygen tank blew up, but the crew used the lunar module as a lifeboat. This helped them to orbit the moon and return home safely.

Apollo 14: On this mission, Alan Sheppard returned to the moon, conducted geological experiments and struck the fist golf ball on the moon.

Apollo 15: This mission was the first to use a lunar rover to help the astronauts cover more of the moon’s surface in which they rode over 27 km. It was also the first space walk.

Apollo 16: This mission also involved using a lunar rover, which the astronauts were able to get up to a speed of 18 km/h.

Apollo 17: This was the last mission to the moon.