The First U.S. Vehicle on The Moon Since Apollo 17
The US returned to the moon for the first time in more than half a century, when the privately-built spacecraft called Odysseus has made a soft landing on the Moon.
Odysseus was the first U.S. vehicle on the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972, the closing chapter in humanity’s astonishing achievement of sending people to the moon and bringing them all back alive. That is a feat that has not been repeated or even tried since.
There was high drama and plenty of intrigue on Thursday evening as Intuitive Machines attempted to land its Odysseus spacecraft in a small crater not all that far from the south pole of the Moon. About 20 minutes after touchdown, NASA declared success, but some questions remained about the health of the lander and its orientation. Why? Because while Odysseus was phoning home, its signal was weak.
THE FIRST MOON LANDING 50 YEARS AGO
Apollo 11 Mission (1969):
On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the moon. Armstrong’s iconic words, “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind,” echoed across the globe as he descended from the lunar module.
The Eagle lunar module touched down in the Sea of Tranquility, a flat region on the moon’s surface. Armstrong and Aldrin spent about 2.5 hours exploring, collecting samples, and conducting experiments.
Meanwhile, Michael Collins orbited the moon in the command module, awaiting their return.
The Lunar Module Descent:
As the lunar module descended, it faced unexpected challenges. Armstrong had to manually steer the craft to avoid a large crater and find a safe landing spot.
With just seconds of fuel remaining, Armstrong safely landed the module, securing its place in history.
The First Steps:
Armstrong’s first step onto the moon was a moment of triumph and awe. The world watched as he planted the American flag and conducted experiments.
Aldrin joined him, and together they explored the lunar surface, collecting rock samples and setting up scientific instruments.
Return to Earth:
After spending about 21 hours on the moon, Armstrong and Aldrin rejoined Collins in the command module.
The crew safely returned to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969.
Legacy and Impact:
The moon landing symbolized human ingenuity, determination, and cooperation. It remains a testament to what humanity can achieve when united by a common goal.
The Apollo program continued with several more successful moon landings, including Apollo 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17.
The moon landings advanced scientific knowledge provided valuable data, and inspired generations of scientists, engineers, and dreamers.
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