Experience The Apollo Space Mission At Arizona's Meteor Crater

Did you know that the Apollo space mission astronauts took their first moon steps right here in northern Arizona? Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and other astronauts trained for the moon landing at Arizona's Meteor Crater, located between Winslow and Flagstaff on I-40.

At Meteor Crater, you can not only see the massive impact crater itself, but learn all about the space program at the park's interactive visitor center. It boasts the most extensive collection of exhibits and artifacts related to the solar system. There is a lot to learn and a lot to see at this world-class space exploration attraction.

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Training for the Apollo Space Mission

In January 1963, a group of astronauts were taken to Flagstaff, Arizona. From there, they visited a number of sites in the area where it was believed that the terrain resembled that of the moon. These sites include Sunset Crater, parts of the Grand Canyon, and the Barringer Meteorite Crater, known also as Meteor Crater.

The Barringer crater was chosen for the most extensive training because of its resemblance to the moon's surface with its many craters of different sizes. In the hot desert sun, astronauts practiced collecting soil and rock samples from the canyon rim using specialized lunar tools. Astronauts continued to train here until the mid-1970's.

Experience Outer Space at the Visitors Center

At Meteor Crater's visitor center, you'll find the Interactive Discovery Center, which includes 24 unique exhibits including two interactive computer displays that show the outer limits of the known universe using high-tech graphics. Displays cover asteroids, planets, the solar system, meteorites, the Diablo Canyon meteorite that impacted the Barringer crater and the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet that hit Jupiter.

The center also has information about "near earth objects." These are things sailing through space at incredible speeds that scientists believe could cause earthlings worry. Scientists are studying these objects and their trajectories in order to prepare for future collisions.

There's an actual Apollo test capsule in the courtyard of the center, so you can see just how cramped the astronauts' quarters were. It's hard to believe that they could've traveled to the moon in something that small. You'll also find the Astronaut Wall of Fame, which walks you through the history of the space program.

And don't forget the meteorite. Ever touched something from outer space? At Meteor Crater, you can. A chunk of the original meteorite is on display in the park's visitor center. You can touch it, but don't try to lift it - it's made up mostly of iron and weighs about 1,400 pounds.

The gift shop also has astronaut ice cream, patches, toys, games and science kits. It's an excellent one-stop shop for kids who love science and outer space. In addition to meteor and space related goods, they also have a huge variety of things related to the American southwest, Route 66, Native American cultures and Arizona history.

The Biggest Hole in the Earth You'll Ever See

While you're there, be sure to see the crater! It's a giant hole in the earth 550 feet deep and 2.4 miles around. You can hike the rim, which stands 150 feet above the desert floor, and look down into the crater at one of its overlooks. There is also a viewing area inside the air conditioned visitor center if it gets too hot for you. Spyglasses allow you to see the ground where the astronauts walked, and there's even a cardboard cut-out astronaut to give you an idea of how massive the scale is.

Meteor Crater has the nation's best space exploration information center. It's an excellent experience for science lovers of any age.

Experience The Apollo Space Mission At Arizona's Meteor Crater

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Project Apollo - NASA's Mission to the Moon

In 1961 President John F. Kennedy spoke to the American people and promised that the United States would land a man on the moon by the end of the decade. America's goal was to show the world that it had the best technology and was the most powerful nation. On July 20, 1969 Apollo 11 landed on the moon and astronaut Neil Armstrong was the first human to put a foot on the lunar surface.

Before the Apollo project began NASA's Mercury and Gemini programs put astronauts into an orbit around the Earth. But Project Apollo was a very difficult and different mission. NASA needed a powerful rocket that could escape the Earth's gravity and travel all the way to the moon. After Kennedy's speech, NASA started work on such a rocket. The Saturn V booster was finished in 1967. It was the greatest rocket ever built.

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The Apollo spacecraft was made up of three parts. The command module was main part. It was where the astronauts lived during the trip to the moon. It had all the instruments and computers that were needed for such a mission and it was the only part of the spacecraft that returned to Earth.

The service module had its own rockets. They were used to slow down the Apollo spacecraft when it entered the moon's orbit. Without these rockets the spacecraft would be too fast and fly right past the moon.

The third part of the Apollo spacecraft was the lunar module. It was rather small and had legs that looked like a spider's. When the astronauts got into the moon's orbit they separated the lunar module and flew it down to the moon's surface. The landing craft had two parts: the lower part was used for slowing it down so that it could land gently, the upper part would let the astronauts return to the command module.

In 1967 a tragic accident almost ended the Apollo project. A fire broke out in the Apollo 1 spacecraft during a test on the ground. All three astronauts were killed.

After more testing and some unmanned flights Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to fly to the moon. It entered lunar orbit, flew around the dark side of the moon and back to Earth again. After two more Apollo missions NASA was ready for a moon landing.

On July 16, 1969 Apollo 11 took off from Cape Kennedy, Florida. Aboard the spacecraft were 3 astronauts: Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins. Three days later they entered the moon's orbit. Armstrong and Aldrin got into the lunar module; Collins was left behind in the command module.

On July 20, 1969 the "Eagle", as the lunar module was called, touched down softly in a lowland called Sea of Tranquility. A television camera that was attached to the side of the spacecraft sent live pictures back to Earth where millions of people were watching. After checking Eagle to see if everything was all right, Armstrong lowered a ladder and stepped down on the moon's surface. It was "one small step for man, but one giant leap for mankind."

The astronauts spent about two and a half hours on the lunar surface. They put up the American flag, collected rocks and set up instruments. After lifting off from the surface of the moon they flew back to the command module and successfully joined Michael Collins. On July 24, 1969 Apollo 11 splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. The first American moon mission was a success.

In the years that followed there were five more lunar landings. But not all Apollo flights were successful. Apollo 13 almost ended in disaster. During its journey to the moon one of the two oxygen tanks exploded. They were vital for breathing and for the power systems of the command module. The three astronauts had to get into the lunar module, which had its own power and oxygen, but the LM was planned only for two astronauts, not three. All unnecessary systems had to be turned off so that it could save as much power as possible. Although Apollo 13 didn't land on the moon NASA managed to bring the three astronauts back to Earth safely.

On Apollo 15 the astronauts took a battery-powered car with them. The lunar rover traveled a distance of over 27 km on the lunar surface.

Although Project Apollo cost the Americans a lot of money it demonstrated the technological power of the USA. One of its aims was also to show the western world's superiority in the Cold War. The data that the Apollo missions brought back to Earth gave scientists much information on how the moon and the solar system developed.

Project Apollo - NASA's Mission to the Moon

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