Exploring far beyond what we know as our planet Earth has always been one of the achievements of humanity. Since approximately 50 years ago the first time landed on the Moon and until now we have asked ourselves if it was the only time, if this event has actually existed or if this event will occur again. In reality, these are data that we will clarify since it is still in doubt how many people have stepped on the moon.
Curiosity has always existed in this context. we know the famous day of the moon landing, to Neil Armstrong and the pioneer NASA making this incredible discovery. But we still don't know the best, given that it has landed on the Moon several times and we will discover it with the following data.
How many times has the Moon been stepped on?
Everyone remembers the unforgettable day when man stepped on the Moon for the first time, it was the July 20, 1969. Although she was the most famous in history, in reality The Moon has been visited up to six times, all directed with the Apollo missions and directed by the hand of twelve astronauts.
Apollo 11
It is the moment most remembered by humanity. He July 16, 1969 NASA launches its rocket at the hands of President John F. Kennedy, with the astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, while Michael Collins was orbiting in the command module. On July 20, they landed on the lunar surface, marking one of humanity's most important moments. In this context, it is interesting to remember the first man on the Moon, Neil Armstrong.
Apollo 12
It was launched on November 14th 1969, landing on November 19 near the first Surveyor III spacecraft on the first mission in 1967. The astronauts arrived on board Charles Conrad Jr; Alan L. Bean; Richard F. Gordon Jr.., with a much more planned and executed mission, where stayed up to 8 hoursThis mission has already brought back materials extracted from the lunar surface and remains of the Surveyor spacecraft to Earth to analyze the effects of their wear. In addition, moon rocks that provide a great deal of scientific information.
Apollo 14
Its launch took place on January 31, 1971, arriving on February 5. The crew in command were the famous astronauts Alan B. Shepard Jr.; Stuart A. Roosa; Edgar D. Mitchell, arriving at the Fra Mauro region. This area was ruled out as it was failed by Apollo 13. On this visit they used the Modulated Equipment Transporter (MET), to be able to collect samples and make unpublished photographs near the cone of the crater. On this visit you won't forget when Alan Shepard hit 2 golf balls on the Moon.
Apollo 15
It was launched on July 26, 1971, making its moon landing 4 days later, on July 30. Her crew was commanded by David R. Scott; James B. Irwin; Alfred M. Worden, with the fourth human mission to the Moon. This mission used the Lunar Rover, led by Scott, and intended to be a new exploration, as it carried out a geological survey of the Rima Hadley region. This mission also helped to better understand the water on the moon.
Apollo 16
Its mission focused on investigating the lunar surface, exploring new areas such as the Descartes highlands area. The launch began on April 16th 1972, making its lunar landing on April 20. Their trip was commanded by the crew: John W. Young; Charles M. Duke Jr.; Thomas K. Mattingly II, In this mission the Lunar Rover is used again, collecting samples, photographs and carrying out various experiments, where the ultraviolet spectrograph camera was used for the first time.
Apollo 17
Its launch was December 7th 1972, making its moon landing on December 11. In this last mission, one of the longest explorations was carried out, by the crew Eugene A. Cernan; Harrison H. Schmitt; Ronald E. Evans. Through lunar rover They were able to make one of the trips with more distance than the previous ones, with a collection of more samples of rocks and lunar soil.
Why hasn't the Moon been stepped on again?
As we have seen, on December 14, 1972, no human being has visited the Moon again. NASA and the United States government has a practical justification to support his theory and there is practically no need to do anything there.
During the Cold War that kept United States with the Soviet Union, they disputed the reach of two world powers with the superiority of demonstrating their military and technological superiority. In this case. The US already reached its peak with its conquest in space, landing on the Moon.
The investment cost no less than 106.000 million euros, with the participation of 400.000 people and where the project continued for 14 years. This meant an expenditure of 5,3% of the national budget in 1965, But in the early 70s his Space Race caused him to suffer a large budget cut. After Apollo 17, future Apollo missions were canceled, with the real justification that it was no longer feasible to return because it was not worth it.
Furthermore, many samples were collected, and that was enough for them. Many of them are still stored and haven't even been studied by scientists. They have not seen the need to return either. because they do not find anything more interesting to explore, given that technological advances have shown the ease of being able to explore other spatial areas.
Today, new horizons have been opened in their expeditions, as they have been manufactured and shipped new probes and satellites to do a more dispersed exploration through various corners of the solar system. NASA has also focused on projects like Skylab and other aspects are valued such as the life of the sun or phenomena such as gravitational waves, which until recently were part of a supposed theory. Nor can we forget the part of Mars that we want to explore, with cutting-edge technology and robots sent to explore the new planet. In 2024 the new mission of Artemis NASA to set foot on the Moon again, will he succeed?
