NASA's journey to landing a man on the Moon
NASA's journey to landing a man on the Moon
History of the American human spaceflight program in the 1960s.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.History of the American human spaceflight program in the 1960s.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Under U.S. Pres. John F. Kennedy, the number of U.S. advisers to the South Vietnamese military rose from 1,500 to 15,000. From Vietnam Perspective (1985), a documentary by Encyclopædia Britannica Educational Corporation.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Pres. John F. Kennedy rallying the people of the United States to support NASA's Apollo program to land human beings on the Moon, September 12, 1962.
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Universal Newsreel/Internet Moving Images Archive (at archive.org)“Summit Crisis,” a newsreel about the U-2 Incident and the collapse of the 1960 Paris summit.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.What happened on December 7, 1941?
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Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, MainzOverview of the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, 1940.
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© Open University (A Britannica Publishing Partner)An overview of Apollo 11's landing on the Moon, including the continuing scientific study of the rock specimens collected during the mission.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Hubert Humphrey discusses the personalities of some of the 20th century's most memorable presidents.
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NASAPerhaps the most famous of all space films, these clips document the arrival of the first human beings on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
Transcript
JOHN F. KENNEDY: We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard.
NARRATOR: The United States space program achieved significant successes during the 1960s while pursuing the ultimate goal of landing a man on the Moon.
In 1961 NASA launched its first astronaut to travel in space, Alan Shepard.
In February 1962 John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth, completing three orbits aboard the space capsule "Friendship 7."
In 1965 Edward White conducted NASA's first space walk. He exited Gemini 4 and floated in space for 23 minutes, repeatedly propelling himself to the end of his tether and back to the spacecraft.
EDWARD WHITE: I was able to maneuver myself outside the spacecraft, back—I maneuvered right up back on the top of the adapter. The only thing I wish is I had more. This is the greatest experience I've—it's just tremendous.
NARRATOR: At the close of the decade, the Apollo 11 spacecraft departed for the Moon.
MISSION CONTROL: Liftoff. We have a liftoff, 32 minutes past the hour. Liftoff on Apollo 11.
NARRATOR: On July 20, 1969, the lunar module "Eagle" landed.
MISSION CONTROL: Copy down, "Eagle."
NEIL ARMSTRONG: "Eagle" has landed.
NARRATOR: And Neil Armstrong stepped off—the first person to walk on the Moon.
NEIL ARMSTRONG: I'm gonna step off the LEM now. That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
It's different, but it's very pretty out here.
BUZZ ALDRIN: Beautiful view.
NEIL ARMSTRONG: Isn't that something? Magnificent sight out here.
NARRATOR: The United States space program achieved significant successes during the 1960s while pursuing the ultimate goal of landing a man on the Moon.
In 1961 NASA launched its first astronaut to travel in space, Alan Shepard.
In February 1962 John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth, completing three orbits aboard the space capsule "Friendship 7."
In 1965 Edward White conducted NASA's first space walk. He exited Gemini 4 and floated in space for 23 minutes, repeatedly propelling himself to the end of his tether and back to the spacecraft.
EDWARD WHITE: I was able to maneuver myself outside the spacecraft, back—I maneuvered right up back on the top of the adapter. The only thing I wish is I had more. This is the greatest experience I've—it's just tremendous.
NARRATOR: At the close of the decade, the Apollo 11 spacecraft departed for the Moon.
MISSION CONTROL: Liftoff. We have a liftoff, 32 minutes past the hour. Liftoff on Apollo 11.
NARRATOR: On July 20, 1969, the lunar module "Eagle" landed.
MISSION CONTROL: Copy down, "Eagle."
NEIL ARMSTRONG: "Eagle" has landed.
NARRATOR: And Neil Armstrong stepped off—the first person to walk on the Moon.
NEIL ARMSTRONG: I'm gonna step off the LEM now. That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
It's different, but it's very pretty out here.
BUZZ ALDRIN: Beautiful view.
NEIL ARMSTRONG: Isn't that something? Magnificent sight out here.