The Legacy of Apollo Moon Landings
America achieved a monumental milestone by landing astronauts on the moon, marking a peak in human endeavors. The lunar lander remains a historical artifact on the moon’s surface.
Apollo’s Historic Voyage
NASA sent 12 men to the lunar surface over half a century ago. The journey began with Apollo 11’s famous astronauts, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. They were the first to explore another world when their lander, aptly named Eagle, touched down on the Sea of Tranquility on July 20, 1969. Armstrong’s announcement, “The Eagle has landed,” resonated with people worldwide.
Armstrong’s first step on the moon delivered the iconic line: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” The lunar module stood 23 feet tall and consisted of two parts: a lower descent stage and an upper stage for the crew. The descent stage facilitated landing, remaining on the surface as the astronauts returned to orbit.
Lunar Remnants
All six descent stages stayed on the moon, lying near the equator on its near side. They’ve been photographed by various lunar missions, such as NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The sites mark the landings of Eagle, Intrepid, Antares, Falcon, Orion, and Challenger. Apollo 13’s lunar module, Aquarius, served as a vital lifeboat instead of landing.
The ascent stages broke apart on the moon, except perhaps Apollo 11’s ascent stage, which could still orbit the moon. Images from the Indian Space Research Organization’s Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter in 2021 show the Apollo 11 site.
The Artemis Program’s Ambitions
With NASA’s Artemis program, private companies steer lunar lander development. SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin are preparing their landers for a crew docking test in low-Earth orbit. Success in Artemis III’s rehearsal could pave the way for a moon landing by 2028. SpaceX’s Starship requires a 10-floor elevator for descent, contrasting with the Apollo astronauts’ nine-rung ladder.
A Global Moment
On the landing day, President Richard Nixon connected with Armstrong and Aldrin from Earth, accentuating a shared global achievement. His words, “For one priceless moment in the whole history of man, all the people on this Earth are truly one,” captured the event’s significance.
Part of a series, “American Objects,” celebrates the United States’ 250th anniversary. The Associated Press’s Health and Science Department, supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, produced this content.