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Apollo Program

NASA's Apollo Program consisted of 17 missions in the 1960s and 1970s to send the first humans to the moon. The program used the mighty Saturn V rocket to launch three astronauts on Apollo spacecraft. Later missions included a Lunar Module for moon landings. It was NASA's Apollo 11 mission in 1969 that landed the first astronauts on the moon (Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin) while a third (Michael Collins) remained in orbit. NASA's final Apollo moon mission was Apollo 17 in 1972. Apollo spacecraft also flew astronauts to NASA's Skylab space station, with the final Apollo capsule used in the historic Apollo-Soyuz docking mission with the Soviet Union in 1975. Take a look back at NASA's Apollo history here!

Related Topics: The Moon, NASA

Latest Updates

Rendering of the "Destination Moon" gallery opening Oct. 14, 2022 at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Claim your space: Smithsonian offers free passes for Air and Space reopening

By Robert Z. Pearlman published 14 September 22

With just a month left before its reopening, you can now claim your space to see the National Air and Space Museum's new galleries.

Separated by 60 years, President John F. Kennedy (left) and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson reaffirmed "we choose to go to the moon" in Rice Stadium at Rice University in Houston on Sept. 12, 1962 and 2022, respectively.

'We choose to go to the moon...' again: NASA marks 60th anniversary of JFK speech

By Robert Z. Pearlman last updated 12 September 22

As NASA again prepares to set sail "on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure" ever embarked, the agency's leaders returned to where JFK stated, "We choose to go to the moon."

President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech at Rice Stadium of Rice University on September 12, 1962, famously asking Why do we choose to go to the moon?

Watch NASA chief commemorate 60th anniversary of JFK moon speech Monday

By Mike Wall published 12 September 22

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson will discuss the legacy of JFK's Rice University moon speech Monday (Sept. 12) at noon EDT (1600 GMT), and you can watch it live.

No, NASA's massive Saturn V rocket didn't melt concrete with sound or set fires a mile away

By Stefanie Waldek published 23 August 22

Researchers used computer models to estimate the rocket's acoustic levels, determining they were not high enough to cause such damage.

Boots on Mars and a bombshell on Earth highlight the 10th and last episode of the third season of "For All Mankind."

'For All Mankind' showrunners discuss the explosive season 3 finale

By Robert Z. Pearlman published 13 August 22

What could more pivotal to NASA history than landing the first humans on Mars? As revealed in the season 3 finale of "For All Mankind," the answer could be much more terrestrial. Warning: spoilers.

The Apollo 11 command module Columbia is the centerpiece of the "Destination Moon" exhibition opening with seven other reimagined galleries at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 14, 2022.

Smithsonian to debut reimagined Air and Space Museum galleries on Oct. 14

By Robert Z. Pearlman published 2 August 22

The countdown is now on for the launch of the first reimagined galleries in the National Air and Space Museum. The Smithsonian announced that it will reopen half of the flagship building on Oct. 14.

Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden's 1971 Corvette is being restored by his grandson Will Penczak and Max Kaiserman of Luna Replicas to serve as a "tool of inspiration."

Astronaut's grandson partners on project to restore rare Apollo 15 'AstroVette'

By Robert Z. Pearlman published 2 August 22

A rare Corvette is to be restored, 51 years after its one-time owner launched with the first car to be driven on the moon. Project AstroVette Endeavour aims to return the car to its 1971 condition.

Detail shot of the inflight coverall jacket that astronaut Buzz Aldrin wore on the Apollo 11 mission. The jacket now holds the record for the single most expensive space artifact sold at auction, selling for $2.8 million at Sotheby's in New York on July 26, 2022.

Buzz Aldrin's moon-flown Apollo 11 jacket sells for record $2.8M at Sotheby's

By Robert Z. Pearlman published 26 July 22

A jacket worn by Buzz Aldrin set a new record for the most-ever paid at auction for a flown-in-space artifact, while Aldrin's pen credited with saving the Apollo 11 mission failed to sell.

A new statue of an Apollo astronaut stands outside the McDonald's in Nassau Bay, a suburb of Houston, Texas.

McDonald's moonman: Apollo astronaut statue erected at Houston-area restaurant

By Robert Z. Pearlman published 20 July 22

A new statue of an Apollo astronaut now stands near NASA in Houston, just in time for the anniversary of the first moon landing. To find it, just follow the Golden Arches.

An interior view of a Virgin Galactic SpaceShip with Earth visible through its windows.

Apollo 11 vs. space tourism in 2022 (op-ed)

By Rick Tumlinson published 20 July 22

We honor the heroes of Apollo 11 and all those who made their accomplishment possible, yet many still deride astronauts in the U.S. private space industry.

Sotheby's department head Cassandra Hatton holds up the inflight coveralls jacket that Buzz Aldrin wore on the Apollo 11 mission and is now for sale through the New York auction house.

Sotheby's to auction Buzz Aldrin's Apollo 11 moon landing artifacts

By Robert Z. Pearlman last updated 19 July 22

Sotheby's is set to auction items from Buzz Aldrin's Apollo 11 moon landing artifacts collection.

RelaunchSpace has reconstructed every page, font and diagram in "Apollo 11 Flight Plan: Relaunched."

RelaunchSpace reconstructs NASA flight plan for Apollo 11 moon landing

By Robert Z. Pearlman published 16 July 22

More than half a century since its pages served as humanity's first roadmap to the moon, NASA's Apollo 11 flight plan has been relaunched.

A baseball flown in space and a moon lander bobblehead are part of the Houston Astros' next NASA Night celebration at Minute Maid Park on Saturday, July 16, 2022.

Houston Astros to celebrate Apollo 11 with moon lander bobblehead

By Robert Z. Pearlman published 14 July 22

An astronaut will take to the field as a baseball player walks on the moon — at least, the latter in bobblehead format — as part of NASA Night with the Houston Astros.

The preferred candidate designs for Alabama's 2024 American Innovation $1 Coin honoring NASA's Saturn V rocket, as selected by the Commission of Fine Arts (design 10, focused on the F-1 engines) and by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (design 1, also one of two favored by Alabama's governor).

NASA's Saturn V moon rocket to launch onto 2024 US dollar coin

By Robert Z. Pearlman published 8 July 22

The rocket that launched the first astronauts to the moon will blast off from the back of a new dollar coin in 2024. NASA's Saturn V will be featured on Alabama's American Innovation $1 Coin.

Pulled from auction: Cockroach carcasses and the Apollo 11 moon dust extracted from their stomachs, the result of a 1969 NASA biological test in search of dangerous "moon bugs."

NASA halts sale of cockroach-eaten Apollo 11 moon dust

By Robert Z. Pearlman published 24 June 22

As it turns out, attempting to sell moon dust that was extracted from the stomachs of cockroaches does indeed bug NASA. So much so, that the space agency requested RR Auction halt its sale.

Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell poses with Tom Hanks after being presented the Congressional Space Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton in the Oval Office on July 26, 1995. At far left, partially cropped, is Lori Garver, then-executive director of the National Space Society, standing next to Colin Hanks.

Former NASA deputy chief reveals story behind Apollo 13 astronaut's medal of honor

By Robert Z. Pearlman published 22 June 22

Less than a month after "Apollo 13" opened, President Bill Clinton met with Jim Lovell to present one of the highest awards an astronaut can receive: the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

The new monument to NASA's fallen Apollo 1 crew is seen after its dedication at Arlington National Cemetery on June 2, 2022, in Arlington, Virginia.

Monument to NASA's fallen Apollo 1 crew dedicated at national cemetery

By Robert Z. Pearlman last updated 3 June 22

A monument now stands at Arlington National Cemetery in memory of the Apollo 1 crew, the first astronauts to die in their spacecraft, 55 years after the fire took their lives.