Apollo 8
Apollo 8 launched on December 21, 1968 from Cape Kennedy and
was the first manned mission to the Moon.
The Apollo 8 had three crew members, Frank Borman (Commander), William
A. Anders (Lunar Module Pilot), and James A. Lovell Jr. (Command Module Pilot). There were 3 back up members Neil Armstrong (Commander),
Fred W. Haise Jr. (Lunar Module Pilot), and Buzz Aldrin Jr. (Command Module
Pilot). Apollo 8 reached the lunar orbit on December 24, 1968 at Christmas
evening and astronauts spent their Christmas in space. The mission objectives
for Apollo 8 included harmonized performance of the crew, the support
facilities, the command and service module, the mission also was to determine Tran’s
lunar injection, and CSM navigation. All the main and detailed objectives were accomplished.
Apollo 8 reached the altitude of 118.82 above the orbit, and a total distance of
579,606.9 miles. Apollo 8 had six prelaunch
tests before the final launch. Separation of common module from the SM occurred
146 hours, and it caused the space craft to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on
December 27. They splashed down about 5,100 yards from the recovery ship USS
Yorktown, 147 hours after launch and precisely on time. The total duration of
Apollo 8 flight was six days and three hours.
Apollo 11
Apollo 11 was the most important space craft launched in
1960s decade and one of the most important one in history of NASA (National
Aeronautics and Space Administration). Apollo 11 had 17 prelaunch milestones
and finally launched on July 16, 1969; 9:32 a.m. EDT with the velocity of 40.320
km (25.053686 mile) per hour and the mass of 2,923,387 kg. Apollo 11 had 3 crew
members Neil Armstrong (Commander), Buzz Aldrin Jr. (Lunar Module Pilot), and Michael
Collins (Command Module Pilot). They had
2 back up crew members James A. Lovell (Commander) and Fred W. Haise Jr. (Lunar
Module Pilot). The primary mission objective of Apollo 11 was to land a man on
the Moon and return him safely to the Earth. They had some other missions which
were collecting samples of the Moon surface taking photos extravehicular
activity. They collected 21.7 kilograms of Moon rock, these first samples were
basalts, and they were about 3.7 million years old. Apollo 11 was the largest
space craft that was ever constructed in United States. Neil Armstrong was carrying a video camera and
was sending the photos to the Earth. On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the
Moon and United States became the first country that successfully landed a man
on the Moon. The total duration of Apollo 11 mission was about 8 days, 3 hours,
18 min, and 35 seconds and traveled a total distance of 953,054 miles. Apollo
11 landed in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969.
`Apolo 8
ReplyDeletei think this was a big deal for the US, And it was big risk for these people who went moon.. They have never done anything like this before and here they risking their life just to be the first ones to get there; but heads up to them because this as also good for the country's reputation. But also they are going t be big stars in the entire universe.Overall, there is a chance that the craft was at risk since it was the first time. Overall, what matters is that the Americans were together in this.
Aline Niyonzima
Apollo 11
ReplyDeleteTHis is a decade when Americans were proud for themselves; finally the biggest craft arriving on the moon. It is time for celebration because during this decade the Americans were facing a tough time and Apollo11 lending on the moon was something they have been waiting for to cheer them up.This space craft helped them to get settled on the moon , they took pictures that were unseen before and it was not only exciting that they finally got there safe but also achieved something. I must say that if i was living during the time could have a became an astronaut.
In response to the Apollo 8 & 11 post:
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I would like to say I am not a huge science person so all of these posts about science are very interesting. I was also not aware of Apollo 8, I had only heard of Apollo 11. Weird I know, but I am glad that I was able to at least gain a bit more knowledge. I thought is was really neat that the Apollo 8 crew were on the lunar orbit on Christmas Eve, I bet they missed their families but they were also having an experience of a lifetime. Apollo 11 is a space craft mission that will always be remembered since it involved the first man on the moon. I remember learining about this as a young child. I thought it was awesome that someone actually went to the moon and I still do.
-Maria Marquez
In response to Apollo 8 and Apollo 11
ReplyDeleteDid you know some people don't believe America never landed on the moon? They think it's an American cover up and the photos Neil Armstrong took were filmed in a studio in Hollywood. 21.7 kilograms may not sound like a lot but I remember hearing how much it cost to send a gallon of water and being shocked. Every bit of weight counts in space. I always think it's terribly unscientific for NASA to have made a vessel that was supposed to land in the water. If they could send people out into space I thought they should be able to land a little more scientifically than that.
- John Osorio