National Moon Day Tarihi

1961

President Kennedy initiates NASA's work on a manned lunar landing

In a historic speech on May 25, President John F. Kennedy signals the start of Nasa's Apollo space program as well as his plan to see an American on the Moon by the end of the decade.

1964

Americans see first TV images of the moon's surface

For the first time, American TV viewers get to view the Moon's cratered surface from images transmitted by NASA's unmanned probe, Ranger 7.

1968

Americans watch as Apollo 8 repeats its orbit 10 times around the moon

NASA's Apollo 8 orbits the Moon 10 times as the first manned flight while Americans watch on television.

1969

Apollo 11 lands on the moon in a historic first

The world breathlessly watches as Apollo 11's three-man team becomes the first humans to step onto the Moon's surface.

1972

NASA's Apollo program comes to an end

NASA shuts down its Apollo program with a final manned landing — Apollo 17.

2020

Coming soon: Mars?

No less than five (unmanned) missions are set for between 2020 and 2021. This includes NASA's Mars 2020 rover.