Space Exploration: Timeline and Technologies

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1969 Moon Landing

JFK’s Pledge Leads to Start of Apollo Program The American effort to send astronauts to the moon had its origins in an appeal President Kennedy made to a special joint session of Congress on May 25, 1961: “I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing […]

Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong (1930‑2012) was a U.S. astronaut who became the first human to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969, as part of the Apollo 11 mission.

Apollo 13

Apollo 13’s Mission On April 11, 1970, Apollo 13 launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. On board were astronauts James Lovell, John “Jack” Swigert and Fred Haise. Their mission was to reach the Fra Mauro highlands of the moon and explore the Imbrium Basin, conducting geological experiments along the way. WATCH: Apollo 13: Modern Marvels on […]

Buzz Aldrin

Buzz Aldrin became the second man to walk on the moon during NASA’s 1969 Apollo 11 mission. Beyond that historic moment, Aldrin played a critical behind‑the‑scenes role in solving some of the thorniest challenges of manned space flight.

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What Does the Moon Smell Like?

Author Charles Fishman talks about how the Apollo 11 astronauts discovered one strange thing about the moon—it has a smell.

Apollo 11: JFK’s Secret Space Tapes

Author Charles Fishman talks about secret recordings between JFK and NASA administrators.

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Apollo 11: Handmade Parts

Author Charles Fishman discusses how critical parts of the Apollo program relied on handcrafted materials—even the computers!

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NASA’s Early Years

In 1958, NASA was founded and quickly took up the goal of sending a man into Earth’s orbit—and safely returning him home. Seven men were chosen for Project Mercury, embarking on years of training to prepare for a journey no one had made before.

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