Historical Events tagged with "lunar exploration"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Space Exploration

SMART-1 Identifies Elements on the Moon's Surface

January 15th, 2005 20 years ago

The SMART-1 lunar orbiter, operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), successfully detected significant surface elements on the Moon, including calcium, aluminum, silicon, and iron. This discovery came after its extensive journey and deployment around the lunar body, enhancing our understanding of its composition. The information gathered is vital for future lunar exploration and potential resource utilization on the Moon.

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Space Exploration

Apollo 17 Completes Final Moon Landing Mission

December 11th, 1972 52 years ago

Apollo 17 marked the final lunar landing mission of NASA's Apollo program, which explored the Moon's surface and returned valuable data. Launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the mission was crewed by astronauts Eugene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt, and Ronald Evans. Apollo 17 is particularly notable for being the only mission to include a scientist on board, with Schmitt being a qualified geologist. The mission lasted about 12 days, during which the lunar module landed in the Taurus-Littrow valley, allowing for extensive geological sampling and exploration. It concluded significant lunar research and achievements of the Apollo program.

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Space Exploration

Apollo 14 Launches to the Moon's Highlands

January 31st, 1971 54 years ago

Astronauts Alan Shepard, Stuart Roosa, and Edgar Mitchell launched aboard a Saturn V rocket for their Apollo 14 mission targeting the Fra Mauro Highlands on the Moon. This mission marked the third successful manned lunar landing and utilized advanced lunar exploration techniques. The astronauts aimed to gather scientific data and samples from the Apollo lunar landing site, enhancing human understanding of the Moon's geology. The launch took place at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, showcasing the continued American efforts in space exploration during the Apollo program.

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