Apollo Program Overview: From Apollo 7 to the Last Moon Mission
The short version
A children's educational overview of NASA's Apollo program, which aimed to take humans to the Moon and bring them home safely. It covers Apollo 7, Apollo 11 with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 12, Apollo 13 and the final missions, Apollo 14 through 17, and ends with a short quiz.
Full written account
Apollo was a series of NASA operations with the goal of taking humans to the Moon and bringing them home safely. The missions ran over the 1960s and early 1970s and played a part in the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. They are described as the first and only missions to send humans to the Moon, at least so far.
Apollo 7: testing the spacecraft
Apollo 7 was the first successful mission in the program and launched in October 1968. It did not travel to the Moon, but it tested the spacecraft that would later land there. The crew orbited the Earth, tested the craft's systems, and practiced maneuvers in preparation for a future lunar landing.
Apollo 11 and Apollo 12
The most famous mission is Apollo 11. On July 20th, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to walk on the Moon. Armstrong's words are remembered: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." The two collected moon rocks samples and conducted experiments before returning to Earth.
Apollo 12 followed. Its crew landed near a robotic spacecraft called Surveyor 3, studied it and brought some of its parts back to Earth.
Apollo 13
Apollo 13 launched in April 1970. On its way to the Moon an oxygen tank exploded and the craft lost power. Instead of going to the Moon, the crew worked with NASA engineers on Earth to find a way home. The entire crew survived, which is why the mission is sometimes called a successful failure.
Apollo 14 to 17
Apollo missions 14 through 17 were the last to the Moon, each adding to knowledge of the lunar surface. Crews used more advanced technology such as the lunar roving vehicle to explore larger areas. Apollo 15 brought home a huge collection of lunar rocks.
Apollo 17 was the final Apollo mission, in December 1972. It was the longest, and its crew conducted many experiments, including one to study the Moon's gravity. It returned with the most significant collection of lunar material of all the missions and marked the last time humans have visited the Moon.
Questions this video answers
What was the goal of the Apollo missions?
To take humans to the Moon and bring them home safely.
Who were the first people to walk on the Moon?
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on Apollo 11 on July 20th, 1969.
What happened on Apollo 13?
Launched in April 1970, an oxygen tank exploded on the way to the Moon and the craft lost power. The crew worked with NASA engineers to come home, and the entire crew survived.
Which was the last Apollo mission?
Apollo 17, in December 1972, the last time humans have visited the Moon.
Did Apollo 7 go to the Moon?
No. It launched in October 1968 and tested the spacecraft that would later land on the Moon.
