Back to the Moon

On July 20, 1969, some 530 million people gathered in front of their televisions to view one of humanity’s most spectacular achievements. They watched live as astronauts walked on the moon for the first time! From the lunar surface, astronaut Neil Armstrong uttered these now-famous words: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

“There was the sense that we were witnessing a peak moment in human history,” says Andrew Chaikin, a space historian who’s written several books about lunar exploration. “We knew there would never be a moment quite like this again.”

This year marks the 50th anniversary of that incredible accomplishment. The milestone comes at a special time for NASA, the agency in charge of American space exploration. It’s developing plans for a new series of lunar missions that will send people back to the moon for the first time in nearly half a century.

On July 20, 1969, some 530 million people gathered by their televisions. As they watched live, humans accomplished one of their greatest feats. Astronauts walked on the moon for the first time! Astronaut Neil Armstrong stood on the lunar surface. He said these now-famous words: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

“There was the sense that we were witnessing a peak moment in human history,” says Andrew Chaikin. He’s a space historian who’s written several books about lunar exploration. “We knew there would never be a moment quite like this again.”

This year marks the 50th anniversary of that amazing accomplishment. It comes at a special time for NASA, the agency in charge of American space exploration. NASA is planning a new series of lunar missions. They want to send people back to the moon for the first time in nearly 50 years.  

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy made a big announcement: The United States would put a person on the surface of the moon before the end of the decade. The project captured the nation’s imagination. The idea of going to the moon seemed incredible to people at the time, says Chaikin. “It was something verging on the unbelievable. It seemed like science fiction.”

Meeting Kennedy’s goal would be a huge engineering challenge, unlike anything ever attempted before. Getting astronauts safely to the moon—384,500 kilometers (238,900 miles) away—and back required skills and equipment that didn’t exist yet.

NASA launched a series of preparatory missions that began with Project Mercury. It sent the first Americans into Earth’s orbit one at a time in small capsules for short flights (see Timeline of Humans in Space). Next, the Gemini program launched pairs of astronauts into space for up to 14 days and had them perfect complex piloting maneuvers. They also practiced working outside their capsules in spacesuits, helping NASA improve suit designs. These missions were “the training ground for reaching the moon,” says Chaikin.

After seven years of breakneck research and testing, it was time to head for the moon with the Apollo missions. Following several test flights of the Apollo spacecraft, the crew of Apollo 8 became the first to orbit the moon, in 1968. Less than a year later, Apollo 11 landed the first people—Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin—on its surface. It took them almost three days to reach the moon, and they spent just 21-and-a-half hours there. During that time, the astronauts collected samples of dust and rocks and set up a seismometer to record quakes on the moon. They also installed a laser reflector that scientists on Earth could use to precisely measure the distance to the moon. Five additional Apollo missions landed on the moon—the last in 1972.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy made a big announcement. The United States would put a person on the moon before the end of the decade. The project grabbed the nation’s imagination. The idea of going to the moon seemed unreal to people at the time, says Chaikin. “It was something verging on the unbelievable. It seemed like science fiction.”

Meeting Kennedy’s goal would be a huge challenge for engineers. Nothing like this had ever been tried before. The moon is 384,500 kilometers (238,900 miles) away. Getting astronauts there and back safely required skills and equipment that didn’t exist yet.

NASA ran several missions to prepare. First was Project Mercury. It sent the first Americans into orbit around Earth for short flights. They flew one at a time in small capsules (see Timeline of Humans in Space). Next, the Gemini program sent pairs of astronauts into space. They stayed for up to 14 days, and they practiced tricky piloting moves. They also practiced working outside their capsules in spacesuits. That helped NASA improve the suits. These missions were “the training ground for reaching the moon,” says Chaikin.

The fast-moving research and testing lasted seven years. Finally, it was time for the Apollo missions to head for the moon. The Apollo spacecraft made several test flights. Then the crew of Apollo 8 became the first to orbit the moon, in 1968. Less than a year later, Apollo 11 landed the first people on its surface. They were Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. It took them almost three days to reach the moon, and they spent just 21-and-a-half hours there. The astronauts collected samples of dust and rocks. They set up a seismometer to record quakes on the moon. They also put a laser reflector in place. Scientists on Earth could use it to measure the exact distance to the moon. Five more Apollo missions landed on the moon. The last was in 1972.

In the 50 years since the first moon landing, NASA has continued sending people into space. From 1981 to 2011, the space shuttle program carried astronauts and equipment into orbit around Earth on reusable spacecraft. Today, astronauts conduct research during months-long stays aboard the International Space Station (ISS) orbiting our planet.

“Now we see astronauts in space all the time,” says Chaikin. But all their missions take place close to home. “Since 1972, no one has been more than a few hundred miles from Earth,” he says.

Within the next few years, that could change. NASA is designing a spaceship that would circle the moon like a mini space station. The project, called the Gateway, will be built in pieces (see Moon Station). The first section, housing the power supply, engines, and communications gear, could launch as soon as 2022. Shortly afterward, a crew of astronauts will arrive with additional sections and start assembling them in lunar orbit. A crewed mission will add sections every year afterward, until the station is finished around 2026. When completed, the Gateway will have research labs and room for astronauts to live for up to three months at a time. By 2028, Gateway crew will begin making short trips to the moon’s surface.

Fifty years have passed since the first moon landing, and NASA has continued sending people into space. From 1981 to 2011, they ran the space shuttle program. Astronauts and equipment rode into orbit around Earth on reusable spacecraft. Today, the International Space Station (ISS) orbits our planet. Astronauts stay there for months and do research.

“Now we see astronauts in space all the time,” says Chaikin. But all their missions happen close to home. “Since 1972, no one has been more than a few hundred miles from Earth,” he says.

Soon, that could change. NASA is building a new spaceship. It would circle the moon like a small space station. The project is called the Gateway. It will be built in pieces (see Moon Station). The first section holds the power supply, engines, and communications gear. It could launch as soon as 2022. Soon afterward, a crew of astronauts will arrive with more sections. They’ll start putting them together in lunar orbit. After that, a new crew will add sections every year. Finally the station will be finished around 2026. The Gateway will have research labs and room for astronauts to live. They’ll stay for up to three months at a time. By 2028, Gateway crew will begin making short trips to the moon’s surface.  

Astronauts aboard the Gateway will experience much weaker gravity than that on Earth. They’ll also be exposed to more radiation. On Earth, the planet’s atmosphere protects people from these high-energy particles or rays. NASA wants to study how living under these conditions will affect people’s health, says Marshall Smith. He manages the Gateway project at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C. That research will help the agency prepare for human space travel to more distant destinations, like Mars.

“Helping humans return to the moon and deep space is tremendously exciting,” says Smith. Today’s students could be among the first astronauts to work aboard the station. “By the time they graduate from college, we’ll be looking for people to be a part of missions to the moon and Mars,” says Smith. “The possibilities to work on space missions are endless as we push human exploration farther than ever before.”

On the Gateway, astronauts will feel much weaker gravity than on Earth. They’ll also be exposed to more high-energy particles or rays, called radiation. On Earth, the planet’s atmosphere protects people from radiation. How will living under these conditions affect people’s health? NASA wants to study that, says Marshall Smith. He manages the Gateway project at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C. That research will help the agency prepare for human space travel to farther places, like Mars.

“Helping humans return to the moon and deep space is tremendously exciting,” says Smith. Who will be the first astronauts aboard the station? Today’s students could be among them. “By the time you graduate from college, we’ll be looking for people to be a part of missions to the moon and Mars,” says Smith. “The possibilities to work on space missions are endless as we push human exploration farther than ever before.”