How many successful crewed moon landings have there been?
Hello! Many people are a bit unclear about human moon landings, but the answer is actually quite straightforward.
To date, humans have successfully landed on the moon 6 times.
All six of these moon landings were accomplished by the American Apollo program within a short period of just over three years, from 1969 to 1972. Below, I'll list these six successful missions for clarity:
1. Apollo 11
- Date: July 20, 1969
- Moonwalkers: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin
- Significance: This was humanity's first step on the moon. Armstrong uttered the historic words: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
2. Apollo 12
- Date: November 19, 1969
- Moonwalkers: Pete Conrad, Alan Bean
- Fun Fact: This mission precisely landed next to the Surveyor 3 uncrewed probe, launched three years prior, and brought back some of its parts.
3. Apollo 14
- Date: February 5, 1971
- Moonwalkers: Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell
- Fun Fact: Shepard secretly brought a golf club and two golf balls to the moon, successfully hitting two shots and becoming the "first lunar golfer."
4. Apollo 15
- Date: July 30, 1971
- Moonwalkers: David Scott, James Irwin
- Major Breakthrough: This mission first used the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), allowing astronauts to "drive" on the lunar surface and significantly expanding their exploration range.
5. Apollo 16
- Date: April 21, 1972
- Moonwalkers: John Young, Charles Duke
- Exploration Focus: Primarily conducted geological surveys in the lunar highlands.
6. Apollo 17
- Date: December 11, 1972
- Moonwalkers: Eugene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt
- Significance: This was the last crewed mission to the moon to date. Cernan was the last person to leave footprints on the moon. Schmitt was also the first professional geologist to walk on the moon.
What about the famous Apollo 13?
You might have heard of the movie 'Apollo 13' starring Tom Hanks. This mission was originally planned as the third moon landing, but a severe accident occurred en route to the moon when an oxygen tank in the service module exploded. Ultimately, the moon landing was aborted, but with the help of ground control, the three astronauts miraculously returned safely to Earth after overcoming immense difficulties. Although it didn't successfully land on the moon, it's hailed as a "successful failure" and remains a legend in space history.
In summary:
- Number of successful moon landings: 6
- Total number of people who have walked on the moon: 6 missions, 2 people each, totaling 12 people.
- Current Status: Since Apollo 17 in 1972, no one has landed on the moon again. However, the United States is now advancing the new "Artemis program," and China is also actively planning crewed moon landings. Perhaps in the near future, we will once again witness this historic moment.