Astronaut James Irwin gives salute beside U.S. flag during EVA (1971-08-01)NASA
Humans first landed on the moon on the 20th of July, 1969, when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made their small steps from their Apollo Lunar Module onto the surface. Today we're going in search of the Lunar Lander at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.
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The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum is found along the prestigious National Mall of Washington D.C., USA. It's a neighbour of the National Art Gallery, the Hirshhorn Museum, and the National Museum of the American Indian.
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The National Air and Space Museum holds an enormous collection of original and replica vehicles, dating from the 1903 Wright Flyer, to V2 rockets, and of course, a full size copy of the Apollo Lunar Module.
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To start the hunt, stay on this slide and point & click to explore the museum. There's lots to see, so stick at it, and keep your eyes open. We're counting on you!
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*bzzz* Houston, we have a lander!
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In 1969, this was one of the most advanced pieces of technology on (and off) the planet. It's strange to think that this ungainly, golden hunk of metal was what actually landed astronauts onto the moon's surface.
Apollo 11 Mission image - Astronaut Edwin Aldrin descends the Lu (1969-07-20)NASA
The module is actually made of two parts, the lower half contained the descent engine, and the upper 'ascent stage' housed the astronauts as well as the rocket that would return them to the command module in lunar orbit.
This video, captured by a remote control camera mounted on the moon, captures the lift-off of the Apollo 17 Lunar Module ascent stage at the end of a successful mission - in fact, the last crewed mission to the moon.
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Thanks once again for joining us on a journey of exploration. Perhaps next time we could actually visit the moon? Until then, you'll have to make do with the National Air and Space Museum. Over and out!
