How well do you know the Moon landings?
Only a handful of people have ever stood on the Moon. Six questions, from easy to hard, about the Apollo missions.
Did you know?
- The astronauts' footprints on the Moon could last for millions of years, because there is no wind or rain to erase them. Only tiny meteorite impacts slowly disturb the lunar surface.
- Apollo astronauts left reflectors on the Moon that scientists still use today. By bouncing lasers off them, researchers measure the Earth–Moon distance to within centimetres, showing the Moon moves about 3.8 cm farther away each year.
- Moon dust is sharp and clingy because it has not been smoothed by wind or water. Astronauts said it smelled like spent gunpowder when they brought it into the lunar module.
The Apollo programme
The Apollo programme, run by NASA, landed twelve astronauts on the Moon between 1969 and 1972. It was one of the largest scientific and engineering projects in history, involving hundreds of thousands of people. Apollo brought back rock samples, placed experiments on the surface and changed how humans see Earth.
The Saturn V rocket
Apollo astronauts launched on the Saturn V, one of the most powerful rockets ever flown. It stood about 110 metres tall and burned huge amounts of fuel in its first minutes to lift the spacecraft out of Earth's gravity.
Life on the Moon
Astronauts explored the surface in pressurised suits, collecting samples and setting up experiments. The last three missions carried a Lunar Roving Vehicle, allowing astronauts to travel several kilometres from their landing site.
Science from the Moon
Apollo returned 382 kg of lunar rocks and soil. Studying them helped scientists understand how the Moon formed, likely from debris after a giant collision with the young Earth. Samples are still being studied with new technology today.
Earthrise
In 1968, the crew of Apollo 8 photographed Earth rising over the Moon's horizon. The image, known as 'Earthrise', showed our planet as a small, fragile world and is often credited with inspiring the environmental movement.
Returning to the Moon
No one has walked on the Moon since 1972, but new programmes aim to return. NASA's Artemis programme and missions by other space agencies plan to send astronauts and robots back, with the goal of establishing a long-term presence.
Technology from space research
Research for space missions contributed to many technologies used on Earth. Work on lightweight materials, water purification, medical monitoring and miniaturised electronics was accelerated by the demands of spaceflight. Engineers also developed new methods for managing large, complex projects, which were later used in industries from aviation to construction.