The Apollo Program

The Apollo program was one of the biggest adventures in history. It was run by NASA in the 1960s and 1970s. The goal was to land astronauts on the Moon and bring them safely home. Apollo 11 made this dream come true in 1969. Twelve people have walked on the Moon so far.

First Steps on the Moon

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the Moon. He said the famous words, 'That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.' Buzz Aldrin joined him soon after. Michael Collins stayed in orbit around the Moon. Millions of people watched it on TV.

An Apollo 11 astronaut stands on the Moon in his white spacesuit.
An Apollo 11 astronaut stands on the Moon in his white spacesuit. (Neil A. Armstrong / Wikimedia Commons)

Moon Missions

There were six Apollo missions that landed on the Moon. Astronauts collected rocks and set up science tools. Later missions even used a Moon buggy to drive around. Apollo 13 had a big problem but the crew made it home safely. The last Moon landing was Apollo 17 in 1972.

Fun Facts

  • Moon rocks brought back by Apollo are still studied today.
  • The astronauts left footprints that could last millions of years.
  • The Apollo rockets were taller than a 30-story building.

Did You Know?

No human has walked on the Moon since 1972, but NASA plans to return with the Artemis program.