Since the beginning of NASA’s space program, a select few had the honor and privilege to represent mankind in setting foot on the moon – most notably, Neil Armstrong in 1969. He is the first human and American to set foot on the lunar surface, along with his co-astronaut Buzz Aldrin—the second human and American to walk on the moon. Both astronauts were among the early pioneers in “moonwalking.”
In total, 12 astronauts walked on the surface of the moon. Presently, there are only four of them who are alive. We owe all of them a great degree of respect and admiration.
Apollo 11 Mission – Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin
“The Eagle has landed…”
The primary mission objective of Apollo 11 was to fulfill President John F. Kennedy’s national goal for humanity, which he set on May 25, 1991, in his speech at the Rice University in Houston, Texas. It was to carry out a crewed lunar landing and return to Earth.
Secondary objectives included scientific exploration by the lunar crew aboard the lunar module, transmission of signals using a television camera back to Earth, and deployment of scientific instruments such as laser ranging retroreflector, seismic experiment package, and solar wind composition experiment—indeed, the American government had set aside massive investment money for this and other missions.
Both astronauts gathered lunar surface materials throughout the exploration and brought them back to Earth for further scientific studies. Lunar terrains were extensively photographed, including the lunar equipment, lunar module, and each other—all in still and motion documentation.
Apollo 12 Mission – Charles Conrad, Jr., Alan L. Bean
“The Pinpoint mission…”
The primary objectives of the Apollo 12 mission included extensive series of lunar exploration with the lunar module and the deployment of the ALSEP or Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package. It was left on the moon’s surface to gather scientific, engineering, and seismic data throughout a long period—perhaps it wasn’t run using gas.
Additional objectives included sampling and surveying landing areas, selenological inspection, further evaluations of the human capacity to work in the lunar conditions for an extended time, photographed candidate exploration sites for future missions, development of techniques in precision landing capabilities, and deployment-retrieval of other scientific experiments.
Apollo 14 Mission – Alan B. Shepard, Jr., Edgar D. Mitchell
“Shepard back in space…”
The primary mission objectives of the Apollo 14 were to explore a region called Fra Mauro, which was centered on the deployment of the ASLEP or Apollo Lunar Surface Scientific Experiments Package, investigation of the lunar field geology, collection of lunar surface material samples that were brought back to Earth, deployment of other scientific instruments, photography of candidate landing sites for future missions using high-resolution cameras, including space phenomena such as gegenschein and zodiacal light, and communication tests using VHF and S-band signals. The people involved in this mission must have had complicated investment planning.
Other objectives included operational and engineering evaluation of hardware and techniques, photography of surface details from 60 nautical miles in altitude, and conducting tests to determine variations in S-band signals.
Apollo 15 Mission – David R. Scott, James B. Irwin
“Climb aboard the lunar rover…”
The first of the Apollo “J” missions, Apollo 15, was capable of a greater degree of surface mobility and longer stay time on the moon’s surface. They explored the Hadley-Apennine region, set up and activated lunar surface experiments, conducted photographic tasks and lunar orbital experiments, and made engineering evaluations on the new Apollo equipment.
An additional major objective of Apollo 15 involved launching a subsatellite called Particles and Fields (P&F) into lunar orbit by the command and service module (CSM) shortly before commencing the return-to-Earth sequence of the mission.
Apollo 16 Mission – John W. Young, Charles M. Duke, Jr.
The primary objectives that the Apollo 16 mission had included the collection of lunar surface materials at the selected landing site of the Descartes region, emplacing and activating surface experiments, and conducting photographic tasks and in-flight experiments from lunar orbit. Undoubtedly, they used batteries instead of electricity.
Additional objectives included engineering evaluation of spacecraft and equipment and performing experiments requiring zero gravity.
Apollo 17 Mission –Eugene A. Cernan, Harrison H. Schmitt
For Apollo 17’s mission, the Taurus-Littrow highlands and valley area was the designated lunar landing site. The site was picked for the mission, where rocks both younger and older than those other previous Apollo missions may be found. It was the final in a series of three J-type missions planned for the Apollo program, distinguished from previous G-series and H-series missions by larger scientific payload, extended hardware capability, and the use of the battery-powered Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV)—electricity was still not an option.
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