NASA's journey to landing a man on the Moon
History of the American human spaceflight program in the 1960s.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Are there signs of life on the Red Planet?
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.NASA's new telescope can capture images 100 times larger than Hubble.Media Editor: Elijah Tan
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn about phytoplankton's role as the oxygen-producing foundation of many marine food chains.
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NASAThis video shows an Apollo mission taking off from the Moon. The Lunar Module consisted of two parts. The lower half, or descent stage, contained the landing engine and gear and was left behind to save weight and fuel. The upper half, or ascent stage, carried the astronauts to a rendezvous with the orbiting Command and Service modules, which took them back to Earth. The liftoff was recorded with a camera on the mission's Lunar Roving Vehicle.
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Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail National Archives and Records Administration; United States. Department of Defense. Department of Defense Cuban Missile Crisis Briefing Materials. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, BostonOverview of the Cuban missile crisis and its effect on Germany, 1962.
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Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, MainzJohn F. Kennedy visiting West Berlin in June 1963 and delivering his “Ich bin ein Berliner” (“I Am a Berliner”) speech.
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NASAPerhaps the most famous of all space films, these clips document the arrival of the first human beings on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
Transcript
JOHN F. KENNEDY: We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard.
NARRATOR: The United States space program achieved significant successes during the 1960s while pursuing the ultimate goal of landing a man on the Moon.
In 1961 NASA launched its first astronaut to travel in space, Alan Shepard.
In February 1962 John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth, completing three orbits aboard the space capsule "Friendship 7."
In 1965 Edward White conducted NASA's first space walk. He exited Gemini 4 and floated in space for 23 minutes, repeatedly propelling himself to the end of his tether and back to the spacecraft.
EDWARD WHITE: I was able to maneuver myself outside the spacecraft, back—I maneuvered right up back on the top of the adapter. The only thing I wish is I had more. This is the greatest experience I've—it's just tremendous.
NARRATOR: At the close of the decade, the Apollo 11 spacecraft departed for the Moon.
MISSION CONTROL: Liftoff. We have a liftoff, 32 minutes past the hour. Liftoff on Apollo 11.
NARRATOR: On July 20, 1969, the lunar module "Eagle" landed.
MISSION CONTROL: Copy down, "Eagle."
NEIL ARMSTRONG: "Eagle" has landed.
NARRATOR: And Neil Armstrong stepped off—the first person to walk on the Moon.
NEIL ARMSTRONG: I'm gonna step off the LEM now. That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
It's different, but it's very pretty out here.
BUZZ ALDRIN: Beautiful view.
NEIL ARMSTRONG: Isn't that something? Magnificent sight out here.
NARRATOR: The United States space program achieved significant successes during the 1960s while pursuing the ultimate goal of landing a man on the Moon.
In 1961 NASA launched its first astronaut to travel in space, Alan Shepard.
In February 1962 John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth, completing three orbits aboard the space capsule "Friendship 7."
In 1965 Edward White conducted NASA's first space walk. He exited Gemini 4 and floated in space for 23 minutes, repeatedly propelling himself to the end of his tether and back to the spacecraft.
EDWARD WHITE: I was able to maneuver myself outside the spacecraft, back—I maneuvered right up back on the top of the adapter. The only thing I wish is I had more. This is the greatest experience I've—it's just tremendous.
NARRATOR: At the close of the decade, the Apollo 11 spacecraft departed for the Moon.
MISSION CONTROL: Liftoff. We have a liftoff, 32 minutes past the hour. Liftoff on Apollo 11.
NARRATOR: On July 20, 1969, the lunar module "Eagle" landed.
MISSION CONTROL: Copy down, "Eagle."
NEIL ARMSTRONG: "Eagle" has landed.
NARRATOR: And Neil Armstrong stepped off—the first person to walk on the Moon.
NEIL ARMSTRONG: I'm gonna step off the LEM now. That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
It's different, but it's very pretty out here.
BUZZ ALDRIN: Beautiful view.
NEIL ARMSTRONG: Isn't that something? Magnificent sight out here.