The first on the moon

The first flight to the moon was made by the Soviet spacecraft. It was launched in 1958, on January 2. According to the flight program, the apparatus "Luna 1" passed from the surface of a satellite of the Earth in 6000 kilometers. In the same year, a little later, another spacecraft from the same series reached the lunar surface.

In order for the first people to land on the Moon, a great deal of work was done. It began in the late 1960s in the United States. To fly to Earth's satellite and the successful return of man was decided within the next ten years.

Along with the solution of the primary task of creating a launch vehicle capable of exporting at least three hundred tons to near-Earth and no less than one hundred tons to the near-moon orbit, work was being done on the creation of the Apollo (spacecraft).

Start "Apollo 11" was carried out in 1969, on July 16. July 20, the first steps on the Moon were made. The ship's crew included Edwin Aldrin (pilot) and Neil Armstrong (commander). On the lunar orbit, the team was waiting in the command module Michael Collins (pilot).

The approach of the ship to the lunar surface raised dust. The astronauts noticed that the dust flew almost parallel to the surface.

The first steps on the Moon were cautious. The speed of movement was not more than 0.5 m / s. The first tracks on the moon were imprinted in a dusty surface, penetrating into it by about a centimeter. Observance of the balance did not cause any special difficulties.

As Armstrong later said, the attraction on the satellite is much more pleasant than on Earth, even slightly more pleasant than weightlessness. With an accidental fall on the abdomen, it was possible to climb without difficulty, causing difficulty to rise after falling on the back.

While the first astronauts were studying the surface on the moon, the Sun rose. The small height of the Sun above the horizon did not allow us to clearly discern the colors. When exiting the cockpit, the Americans found that the lunar soil and debris of rocks are dark gray. At the time of landing, the surface was well illuminated. There were no stars. The Earth was clearly visible.

The Earth during the flight of the cosmonauts was located about 30 degrees from the zenith. When you look at it, blue and white colors are mostly different. However, it was quite clearly visible and gray-brown.

Being on the surface of the Earth's satellite, the cosmonauts did not feel any smells. However, after returning to the lunar cabin and removing the helmets, they suddenly felt the smell of the ground. They brought lunar dust with them on their shoes and suits. The smell was acrid.

Landing people on the surface of the Earth's satellite was an outstanding achievement in the history of conquest of space. The first man who landed on the moon stayed there for no more than two hours.

After the Apollo 11, space expeditions were sent six times to the Earth satellite in the next few years. According to scientists, five of them were very successful. As a result of malfunctions, the ship Apollo-13 failed to reach the surface of the Moon. After flying the lunar orbit, he returned to Earth.

In general, there were twelve astronauts on the surface of the Earth satellite. The length of stay of people on the Moon was, on the whole, several days. Outside the cabin, about twenty-two hours were spent, astronauts even drove several dozen lunar kilometers on a self-propelled vehicle.

During the whole time of visiting the surface of the satellite, a large amount of research has been carried out. During the scientific study, about 380 kilograms of lunar soil were collected. These samples were studied not only in the laboratories of America, but also in other countries.

After the launch of Apollo-17, flights to the moon were suspended. They resumed after twenty years. In 1994, a small satellite was launched into the lunar orbit.