The fact that man landed on the moon has generated great controversy worldwide. Deniers and conspiracy theorists believe it was all a hoax perpetrated by governments and that the moon landing never actually happened. However, it has been 50 years since the first man traveled to the moon, marking a turning point in recent human history. Many wonder how many men have walked on the moon since then.
Therefore, we are going to dedicate this article to tell you how many men have walked on the moon and in what year they did.
How many men have stepped on the moon
The first mission to our own satellite began 50 years ago and was named Apollo 11. On this mission were astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. They were the first to reach our satellite, and it remains the most memorable event for all those who witnessed these space voyages firsthand. Armstrong famously uttered the phrase, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," a quote that remains etched in everyone's memory to this day.
Despite this, with the passage of time, many astronauts have been able to step on the lunar surface. Many of them are not as well known as the first ones, but we know that a total of 12 men have walked on the moon. We are going to analyze each of them and briefly tell the context in which they were able to travel to our satellite.
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
They were the first crew members on the first and unforgettable mission known as Apollo 11. This mission took place in July 1969. Armstrong was a renowned Korean War veteran and is famous for being the first man to set foot on the lunar surface . The most important part of the mission was the lunar landing, not simply exiting the spacecraft to step onto the surface. It's important to remember that the lunar environment is very different from Earth's. Just consider Earth's gravity. The lunar surface doesn't have the same gravitational force as Earth. Therefore, landing on the moon is much more challenging and requires extensive training.
Buzz Aldrin was the second man to walk on the moon, spending a total of 21 hours and 36 minutes on its surface . Unlike Armstrong, who was more reserved, Aldrin loved the media and the limelight. This made it more common to see him making public appearances and speaking about his experiences there. If you want to learn more about the moon's history, we recommend you consult the article on the lunar atmosphere.
Charles Conrad and Alan Bean
When we ask ourselves how many men have walked on the moon, the first two are the only ones we know. The rest of the list we're about to mention are not so well-known. These two men were responsible for setting foot on the lunar surface during the mission known as Apollo 12. This mission took place in November 1969, just a few months after the first. Therefore, it can be said that during that year, astronomy was on everyone's lips. It was a year in which humankind achieved remarkable progress in science and technology, to the point of being able to leave our planet and set foot on extraterrestrial soil.
This mission faced some initial complications due to an electrical storm. However, a successful lunar landing was achieved. To better understand the characteristics of our satellite, it's interesting to read about the moon as a satellite.
Alan Shepard and Ed Mitchell
These are two other astronauts who reached the moon. The first was the first American launched into space, and the second was the first man after the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Together, they set foot on the lunar surface in January 1971. The mission was known as Apollo 14. This expedition is remembered for having one of the most precise lunar landings in history. The lunar module pilot was Michael Mitchell, who became the sixth man to walk on the moon. He collected nearly 100 kg of lunar rocks during the mission. If you're curious about lunar exploration, we invite you to read about the journeys to the moon.
How many men have walked on the moon: David Scott and James Irwin
The Apollo 15 mission took place in July 1971, making it another intense year for astronomy. They were active on the lunar surface and were the first to use the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) in their explorations . This vehicle allowed them to cover more of the lunar surface, expanding our knowledge of our satellite. To delve deeper into this topic, you can discover more about water on the moon.
However, this mission sparked a fierce controversy, leading these astronauts to be suspended upon their return. They transported envelopes with commemorative stamps from the mission without declaring anything in exchange for money. These envelopes were sold by the businessman who hired them as a souvenir from the moon at exorbitant prices. Ultimately, NASA confiscated the remaining envelopes and sanctioned the astronauts. As always, humankind is driven by greed and selfishness. Something as important to humanity as reaching our satellite and learning more about it is clouded by economic power.
John Young and Charlie Duke
These two astronauts led the Apollo 16 mission in April 1972. As you can see, those were years filled with trips to the moon. The first was the longest-serving astronaut in history and died at the age of 87 from pneumonia . The second is still alive today and is approximately 83 years old. To understand the importance of lunar exploration, it's recommended to read about why we haven't returned to the moon.
Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt
They led the mission known as Apollo 17. It was the last lunar mission. Schmitt may be the first scientist trained to travel to space and the second civilian after Neil Armstrong. Since then, we have had several missions to the moon.
I hope that with this information you can know how many men have walked on the moon.