When did the first space shuttle land on the moon?

Answer 1

Project ApolloThe Apollo program began in 1963 with the expressed goal of landing a man on the moon. During its nine years, six missions (Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17) landed a total of twelve men on the moon. Early missions were to test equipment and did not land on the moon. Apollo 7 and 9 were earth orbiting and Apollo 8 and 10 orbited the moon. The historic Apollo 8 mission was the first to take humans to the moon and back. Apollo 10 was a practice run for landing on the moon but did not actually touch down.

The Apollo 11 spacecraft was launched on July 16, 1969 atop the very powerful Saturn V rocket. It took three days to reach the moon. One of the greatest moments in human history came on July 20, 1969, when Neil Alden Armstrong became the first human to walk on the moon. As he stepped from the lunar module, the Eagle, he spoke the now famous words, "One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." The other astronauts on board were Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. (the second man on the moon who nobody remembers) and Michael Collins (who stayed in orbit and did not land on the moon). They spent only 21 hours, 38 minutes, and 21 seconds on the moon's surface with only 2 hours 31 minutes outside the lunar module. They brought back rocks and soil (which is dirt) and left a flag and a plaque which said: HERE MEN FROM THE PLANET EARTH

FIRST SET FOOT UPON THE MOON

JULY 1969 A.D.

WE CAME IN PEACE FOR ALL MANKIND

A great movie was made about the dramatic Apollo 13 mission. An explosion in an oxygen tank nearly resulted in the deaths of the three astronauts. They orbited the moon but did not land. Commander Jim Lovell also wrote a book about the experience. For more great information about the Apollo program check out Apollo the Moon and The Apollo Program both sponsored by National Air and Space Museum.

more cool stuff about this on http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312074/history.htm