Moon Missions

How did astronauts travel to the Moon and what did they discover there?

An exploration of how NASA's Apollo missions traveled to the Moon and what discoveries were made during these historic journeys.

Check your understanding

1. Why did the Saturn V rocket use a multi-stage design?
- A. To carry more astronauts in different sections
- B. To get rid of extra weight as the rocket used up its fuel
- C. To make the rocket look more impressive in the sky
- D. To store different types of food for the long trip
2. How did the Lunar Module land on the Moon if there was no air for a parachute?
- A. It used strong ropes to pull itself down
- B. It floated down slowly because of low gravity
- C. It used a rocket engine pointing downward to act like a cushion
- D. It landed on top of giant bouncy boulders
3. Why is the Moon's surface covered in fine, sharp dust?
- A. It is made of ground-up breadcrumbs
- B. Volcanoes erupted and left behind black ash
- C. It is 'regolith,' created by billions of years of meteorite impacts
- D. It is left over from old space debris from Earth
4. What happens to the sky on the Moon when the sun is shining?
- A. It turns a bright, beautiful blue
- B. It looks like a deep, cold black because there is no atmosphere
- C. It changes colors to match the surface rocks
- D. It glows bright silver like an old coin

1. Why do scientists use the Moon as a 'history book' for our solar system?
- A. Because the Moon has many libraries built by ancient aliens
- B. Because the lack of wind and rain means craters stay for millions of years
- C. Because astronauts brought back books from their travels
- D. Because the Moon is slowly moving away from the Sun
2. The 'overview effect' describes the feeling astronauts get when they:
- A. Realize how small and fragile Earth looks from space
- B. Feel excited to return to their home in Houston
- C. Learn how to fix a broken computer circuit
- D. Successfully land the Lunar Module on a flat spot
3. How did the technology from the Apollo missions benefit us here on Earth today?
- A. It helped us find new places to live on the Moon
- B. It taught us how to stop gravity from working
- C. It led to inventions like better medical heart monitors and smaller microchips
- D. It made airplanes fly much faster than they used to
4. Why would walking on the Moon be difficult for an astronaut?
- A. The Moon is too slippery to step on
- B. The spacesuit is very stiff and makes movement exhausting
- C. Gravity is too strong, making it hard to lift their feet
- D. They have to constantly fight against strong moon-winds

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