Not long before Apollo 11’s historic moon landing, flight controllers and stand-in astronauts conducted a simulation of its planned descent to the lunar surface – unknowing it would become one of history’s defining moments seen live around the globe on television. America is commemorating the 50th anniversary of this legendary space mission with events across…
The Apollo program was initiated as a response to President Kennedy’s challenge of landing humans on the moon and was NASA’s largest project, both in terms of personnel and resources. Apollo spacecraft consisted of a command module, service module and lunar module; three missions had to be cancelled but enough hardware remained for nine more…
In 1969, German archaeologist Wendt discovered seven small quartzite slabs decorated with charcoal drawings and ochre images of animals inside a cave in Namibia – some of the earliest transportable works of art discovered anywhere on Africa. Apollo 11 features a lithic assemblage that is strikingly similar to that found at Hollow Rock Shelter and…
Apollo 11 marked the first time in modern history that humans walked on the Moon. President John F. Kennedy set this national goal and the Apollo 11 mission was executed by an ingenious team who believed man could achieve what seemed impossible. Mission patch Apollo 11 astronauts wanted a special way to commemorate one of…
Born in 1930, Collins served in the Air Force and flew 78 combat missions during the Korean War. Initially applying twice to become an astronaut but ultimately selected in 1963. Gemini 10, his maiden voyage as command pilot for NASA’s manned space program, marked an important step forward for humanity’s exploration of space. On this…
By artfully manipulating archiveal footage, Apollo 11 manages to be captivating without becoming overly sentimental. This film offers a far superior account of this monumental event than last year’s visually captivating but emotionally superficial First Man. It humanizes this staggering success that may be deeply embedded into American culture but which transcends it and brings…
NASA turned to Case when none of their military knives met its specifications for its Apollo program, so as part of an ambitious effort, they commissioned them to develop one that did. As part of that endeavor came the Astronaut Knife M-1 with its machete-style blade featuring sharp cutting edges paired with saw teeth for…
As the fire spread, technicians rushed towards the capsule’s hatch in search of the necessary ratchet to open it. They knew the capsule was pressurized with pure oxygen, which fuels fire. And they knew there were numerous combustible materials – from paper checklists and Velcro fastenings to nylon netting – within its walls that could…
Smithsonian X 3D will commemorate the 47th anniversary of Apollo 11 by making publicly available a high-resolution, 3-D scan of Columbia command module’s interior for visitors to view for themselves – for the first time, visitors can now peer inside this capsule that carried Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins into space. Spacecraft In 1969, humankind completed…
