Apollo at 50

Apollo 11 at 50: Back to the Moon… and Beyond?

By John Freeman on July 24, 2019

Today, the descent stage of Lunar Module remains untouched where it was left in the Sea of Tranquility on the Moon. The ascent stage of the Lunar Module was left in a decaying lunar orbit and eventually crashed into the… Read More ›

Race into Space Brooke Bond Card - Lunar Colony

Apollo 11 at 50: Whatever Happened to the Space Race?

By John Freeman on July 23, 2019

As the Apollo 11 Command Service Module covered the quarter of a million miles back from the Moon back to the Earth, NASA had big plans for the Moon, with Apollo only being the first step. 10 years ago on… Read More ›

1969 Rocketdyne concept depicting the firing of the ascent engine as the Apollo 11 Lunar Module ascent stage launches from the surface of the moon. The descent stage serves as a launch base and remained on the lunar surface.Image: NASA

Apollo 11 at 50: Returning Home

By John Freeman on July 22, 2019

It was actually 21st July that the return to Earth began. Armstrong and Aldrin spent less than three hours walking on the Moon and lifted off in the Lunar Module’s ascent stage less than 22 hours after they had touched… Read More ›

Apollo 11 Illustration from the Daily Mirror by Frank Bellamy, published 11th July 1969. Via the Frank Bellamy Checklist

Apollo 11 at 50: The First Moon Landing, illustrated by Frank Bellamy

By John Freeman on July 21, 2019

Americans would have us believe that Neil Armstrong stepped onto the surface of the Moon on 20 July 1969 because they saw it happen in their late evening. However, 50 years ago today, British audiences saw it happen in the… Read More ›

Apollo 11 at 50: The Eagle Has Landed

By John Freeman on July 20, 2019

50 years ago today, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin boarded the Lunar Module, Eagle, and undocked from the Command Service Module, Columbia. Leaving Mike Collins alone in the CSM in lunar orbit, they descended towards the Moon’s surface where Eagle… Read More ›

Earth and Moon, photographed during the Apollo 11 mission, July 1969. Image: NASA

Apollo 11 at 50: Dangers of the Mission

By John Freeman on July 19, 2019

50 years ago today, the crew of Apollo 11 were almost at the Moon with their mission progressing smoothly. But what might have gone wrong? 10 years ago on downthetubes, Jeremy Briggs wrote a 40th anniversary day-by-day celebration series of… Read More ›