From Kennedy's 1961 pledge to the final splashdown of Apollo 17, this timeline traces America's race to the Moon. Follow every crewed mission, the triumph of Apollo 11, the near-disaster of Apollo 13, and the tragedy of Apollo 1 that nearly ended the program before it began. Zoom in to see launches down to the day, or zoom out to watch a decade of ambition unfold.
President John F. Kennedy announces the goal of landing a man on the Moon before the end of the decade. This historic speech to Congress set in motion one of humanity's greatest technological achievements.
A cabin fire during a launch rehearsal test kills astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee. The tragedy led to major design and engineering modifications to improve safety.
First crewed Apollo mission successfully tests the Command and Service Module in Earth orbit. The 11-day mission restored confidence in the program after the Apollo 1 disaster.
First crewed spacecraft to leave Earth orbit, reach the Moon, orbit it, and return safely. The crew transmitted the famous Earthrise photograph and Christmas Eve broadcast.
Final test mission before the Moon landing, coming within 8.4 nautical miles of the lunar surface. All systems and procedures for the landing were successfully verified.
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first humans to walk on the Moon while Michael Collins orbits above. Armstrong's words 'That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind' mark a historic moment.
An oxygen tank explosion cripples the spacecraft en route to the Moon. Through ingenious problem-solving, mission control and the crew safely return despite severe damage.
Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell land in the Fra Mauro highlands, the original destination of Apollo 13. Shepard famously hit two golf balls on the lunar surface.
First extended lunar stay with the Lunar Roving Vehicle, allowing greater exploration range. David Scott and James Irwin conduct extensive geological studies at Hadley Rille.
John Young and Charles Duke explore the Descartes Highlands region, conducting the first astronomical observations from the Moon with an ultraviolet camera.
Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt conduct the longest lunar surface stay. Schmitt, a geologist, is the only scientist to walk on the Moon, making significant geological discoveries.
With the splashdown of Apollo 17, the program concludes having landed 12 astronauts on the Moon across six missions. The program's scientific and technological legacy continues to influence space exploration today.