{"id":41521,"date":"2019-05-31T17:20:00","date_gmt":"2019-05-31T21:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-359282"},"modified":"2024-06-03T11:23:01","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T15:23:01","slug":"what-was-the-apollo-program-grades-k-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-was-the-apollo-program-grades-k-4\/","title":{"rendered":"What Was the Apollo Program? (Grades K-4)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>This article is for students grades K-4.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apollo was a NASA program that sent people to the moon. There were 11 Apollo flights. The first Apollo flight was in 1968.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first four flights tested the spacecraft. Six of the other seven flights landed on the moon. The first moon landing took place in 1969. The last moon landing was in 1972.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Twelve astronauts walked on the moon. They studied the lunar surface. They collected moon rocks and brought them back to Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as16-113-18339\/as16-113-18339~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1920&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as16-113-18339\/as16-113-18339~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1920&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Apollo 16 commander John Young\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 51% 25%; object-position: 51% 25%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as16-113-18339\/as16-113-18339~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1920&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1920w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as16-113-18339\/as16-113-18339~large.jpg?w=150&h=150&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 150w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as16-113-18339\/as16-113-18339~large.jpg?w=300&h=300&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as16-113-18339\/as16-113-18339~large.jpg?w=768&h=768&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as16-113-18339\/as16-113-18339~large.jpg?w=1024&h=1024&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as16-113-18339\/as16-113-18339~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1536&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as16-113-18339\/as16-113-18339~large.jpg?w=50&h=50&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 50w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as16-113-18339\/as16-113-18339~large.jpg?w=100&h=100&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 100w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as16-113-18339\/as16-113-18339~large.jpg?w=200&h=200&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 200w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as16-113-18339\/as16-113-18339~large.jpg?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as16-113-18339\/as16-113-18339~large.jpg?w=600&h=600&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as16-113-18339\/as16-113-18339~large.jpg?w=900&h=900&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as16-113-18339\/as16-113-18339~large.jpg?w=1200&h=1200&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>What Spacecraft Were Used for the Apollo Program?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA built the Apollo Command Module for this program. It had room for three astronauts. The crew area had about as much room as a car. They rode in it on the way to the moon and back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another spacecraft, the Lunar Module, was used for landing on the moon. This spacecraft carried two astronauts. It took them from orbit around the moon to the moon\u2019s surface. The Lunar Module also carried them back into the moon\u2019s orbit to the Command Module.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two types of rockets were used for Apollo, the Saturn IB and the Saturn V (5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first Apollo flight used the smaller Saturn IB rocket. This rocket had two stages. That means it was made of two parts. When the first part ran out of fuel, it dropped away from the other. It burned up in Earth\u2019s atmosphere. The second part kept flying. The Saturn IB rocket was used to test the Apollo capsule in Earth orbit. It was about the size of a 22-story building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The other 10 flights used the more powerful Saturn V rocket. This three-stage rocket could send the Apollo spacecraft to the moon. The Saturn V was as tall as a 36-story building.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/ksc-69pc-442.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"944\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/ksc-69pc-442.jpg?w=944\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Saturn V rocket launching\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/ksc-69pc-442.jpg 944w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/ksc-69pc-442.jpg?resize=236,300 236w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/ksc-69pc-442.jpg?resize=768,976 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/ksc-69pc-442.jpg?resize=806,1024 806w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/ksc-69pc-442.jpg?resize=315,400 315w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/ksc-69pc-442.jpg?resize=472,600 472w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/ksc-69pc-442.jpg?resize=708,900 708w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 944px) 100vw, 944px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The following missions flew humans during Apollo:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br> <strong>Apollo Flight 7<\/strong><br> Date: Oct. 11-22, 1968<br> Mission: Tested the Command Module<br> Crew: Schirra, Eisele, Cunningham<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Apollo Flight 8<\/strong><br>\nDate: Dec. 21-27, 1968<br>\nMission: First to orbit the moon<br>\nCrew: Borman, Lovell, Anders<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Apollo Flight 9<\/strong><br>\nDate: March 3-13, 1969<br>\nMission: Tested the Lunar Module<br>\nCrew: McDivitt, Scott, Schweickart<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Apollo Flight 10<\/strong><br>\nDate: May 18-26, 1969<br>\nMission: Tested the Lunar Module around the moon<br>\nCrew: Cernan, Young, Stafford<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Apollo Flight 11<\/strong><br>\nDate: July 16-24, 1969<br>\nMission: First to land on the moon<br>\nCrew: Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Apollo Flight 12<\/strong><br>\nDate: Nov. 14-24, 1969<br>\nMission: Landed on the moon<br>\nCrew: Conrad, Bean, Gordon<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Apollo Flight 13<\/strong><br>\nDate: April 11-17, 1970<br>\nMission: Was supposed to land on the moon but had a malfunction<br>\nCrew: Lovell, Swigert, Haise<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Apollo Flight 14<\/strong><br>\nDate: Jan. 31-Feb. 9, 1971<br>\nMission: Landed on the moon<br>\nCrew: Shepard, Mitchell, Roosa<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Apollo Flight 15<\/strong><br>\nDate: July 26-Aug. 7, 1971<br>\nMission: Landed on the moon<br>\nCrew: Scott, Irwin, Worden<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Apollo Flight 16<\/strong><br>\nDate: April 16-27, 1972<br>\nMission: Landed on the moon<br>\nCrew: Young, Duke, Mattingly<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Apollo Flight 17<\/strong><br> Date: Dec. 7-19, 1972<br> Mission: Landed on the moon<br> Crew: Cernan, Schmitt, Evans<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>When Did Humans First Visit the Moon?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Apollo 8 was the first manned mission to go to the moon. This mission did not land on the moon. It orbited the moon, then came back to Earth. Apollo 8 circled around the moon on Christmas Eve 1968. The crew was Frank Borman, Bill Anders and Jim Lovell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first moon landing was Apollo 11. It landed on July 20, 1969. The crew of Apollo 11 was Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin. Armstrong and Aldrin walked on the moon. Collins stayed in orbit around the moon. Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon. He said, \u201cThat\u2019s one small step for (a) man; one giant leap for mankind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apollo 13 is one of the more famous missions to the moon. A movie was made about this flight. Apollo 13 was going to land on the moon. On the way there, the spacecraft had a problem. NASA had to figure out how to bring the astronauts home safely. They flew all the way around the moon before returning home. The crew was able to land safely on Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-article\/taking-ride-moon-lunar-roving-vehicle\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/apollo15lunarrover2.jpeg?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Apollo 15 LRV driven by Commander Dave Scott\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/apollo15lunarrover2.jpeg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/apollo15lunarrover2.jpeg?resize=300,205 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/apollo15lunarrover2.jpeg?resize=768,524 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/apollo15lunarrover2.jpeg?resize=1024,698 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/apollo15lunarrover2.jpeg?resize=400,273 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/apollo15lunarrover2.jpeg?resize=600,409 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/apollo15lunarrover2.jpeg?resize=900,614 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Did Astronauts Land on the Moon?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Apollo spacecraft that went to the moon were launched on top of a three-stage Saturn V rocket. The first two stages used all their fuel to get to orbit. The third stage pushed the spacecraft to the moon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the spacecraft reached the moon, the Lunar Module and the Command Module split from each other. The two astronauts in the Lunar Module landed on the moon. The third astronaut stayed in the Command Module in orbit around the moon. On the last three missions, the Lunar Module carried a car called the lunar rover. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Astronauts drove the lunar rover around on the moon to explore farther. The lunar rovers were made so they could be folded to fit in a box on the Lunar Module. The lunar rovers were left on the moon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the two astronauts finished their work on the moon, they got back in the Lunar Module and launched. It went back into orbit around the moon. It connected with the Command Module. The two astronauts from the Lunar Module got back into the Command Module with the other astronaut. They left the Lunar Module behind. It crashed into the moon. Then they flew back to Earth. The Command Module landed in the ocean. A ship picked up the astronauts.<br>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Why Was the Apollo Program Important?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1961, President John F. Kennedy said he wanted America to land astronauts on the moon. He wanted it to happen during the 1960s. NASA did this with the Apollo program. It was the first time people had left Earth orbit and visited another world. These trips will help NASA explore other worlds later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>More About Apollo<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p> <a href=\"\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/who-was-neil-armstrong-grades-k-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Who Was Neil Armstrong?<\/a><br> <a href=\"\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-was-project-mercury-grades-k-4\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/audience\/forstudents\/k-4\/stories\/nasa-knows\/what-was-project-mercury-k4.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What Was Project Mercury?<\/a><br> <a href=\"\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-is-orion-grades-k-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What Is Orion?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-was-the-apollo-program-grades-5-8\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-was-the-apollo-program-grades-5-8\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What Was the Apollo Program? (Grades 5-8)<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-center nasa-button-link padding-y-1 padding-x-0 hds-module wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-students-grades-k-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"button-primary button-primary-md link-external-true\" aria-label=\"Explore More For Students Grades K-4\">\n\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1\">Explore More For Students Grades K-4<\/span>\n\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"button-primary-circle\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This article is for students grades K-4. Apollo was a NASA program that sent people to the moon. There were 11 Apollo flights. The first Apollo flight was in 1968. The first four flights tested the spacecraft. Six of the other seven flights landed on the moon. The first moon landing took place in 1969. [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":48921,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"42","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":["28"],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2849,3290,3773],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[10610,11405,4152],"coauthors":[12657],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"What Was the Apollo Program? (Grades K-4)","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-was-the-apollo-program-grades-k-4\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-was-the-apollo-program-grades-k-4\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/apollo1.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/apollo1.jpg"},"articleSection":"Learning Resources","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"NASA STEM Team"}],"creator":["NASA STEM Team"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Learning Resources","For Kids and Students","Grades K - 4","Read it!"],"dateCreated":"2019-05-31T21:20:00Z","datePublished":"2019-05-31T21:20:00Z","dateModified":"2024-06-03T15:23:01Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"What Was the Apollo Program? (Grades K-4)\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-was-the-apollo-program-grades-k-4\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/apollo1.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2019-05-31T21:20:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Learning Resources\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Learning Resources,For Kids and Students,Grades K - 4,Read it!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"NASA STEM Team\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":5,"time_ago":"5 years","featured_image":{"id":48921,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/apollo1.jpg","title":"apollo1","alt":"","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41521"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41521"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41521\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":667422,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41521\/revisions\/667422"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48921"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41521"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41521"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=41521"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=41521"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=41521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}