While numerous individuals have ventured into Earth’s orbit, a select group has achieved the extraordinary feat of traveling to another celestial body. The Moon stands as the only extraterrestrial destination where humans have set foot, a testament to scientific and engineering endeavors. This unique achievement marks humanity’s reach beyond its home planet.
The Count: How Many Have Journeyed to the Moon
In total, 24 American astronauts traveled to the vicinity of the Moon as part of NASA’s Apollo program (1968-1972). While all 24 embarked on these lunar voyages, only twelve actually descended to the lunar surface. The other twelve remained in lunar orbit aboard the command module.
Twelve astronauts walked on the Moon:
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11)
Charles “Pete” Conrad and Alan Bean (Apollo 12)
Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell (Apollo 14)
David Scott and James Irwin (Apollo 15)
John Young and Charles Duke (Apollo 16)
Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17)
Twelve astronauts orbited the Moon without landing:
Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders (Apollo 8)
Thomas Stafford (Apollo 10)
Michael Collins (Apollo 11)
Richard F. Gordon (Apollo 12)
Fred Haise and Jack Swigert (Apollo 13)
Stuart Roosa (Apollo 14)
Alfred Worden (Apollo 15)
T. Kenneth Mattingly (Apollo 16)
Ronald Evans (Apollo 17)
Jim Lovell is notable for having traveled to the Moon twice, first orbiting on Apollo 8 and then on the aborted Apollo 13 mission.
The Missions: Journeys to the Lunar Surface
The Apollo program was responsible for all human missions to the Moon. The program’s primary goal was to land humans on the Moon and ensure their safe return to Earth, a challenge first met by Apollo 11 in July 1969. This initial landing involved Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, while Michael Collins orbited above in the command module. Following this historic event, five more Apollo missions successfully landed astronauts on the lunar surface: Apollo 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17.
These missions were not merely about reaching the Moon; they incorporated extensive scientific objectives. Astronauts collected significant quantities of lunar samples, totaling 842 pounds (382 kg) of rocks and soil, which provided invaluable insights into the Moon’s composition and geological history. They also deployed scientific instruments, such as seismometers to detect moonquakes and solar wind detectors, and conducted various experiments to study the lunar environment. Later missions, known as “J-missions,” utilized Lunar Roving Vehicles, allowing astronauts to explore greater distances and collect more diverse samples across the lunar landscape.