Lunar Module

space exploration · Apollo · Moon landing · 1960s-1970s

Moon landing machine. The Lunar Module was a spacecraft designed to carry astronauts from a spacecraft orbiting the Moon down to the surface and back up again. It was like a mini-spaceship that only worked near the Moon.

Apollo program star. Between 1969 and 1972, six Lunar Modules successfully landed on the Moon as part of NASA's Apollo program. Each one brought astronauts safely to the lunar surface and brought them back home.

Only one ever used. The Apollo Lunar Module is the only lunar module that has ever actually carried people to another world. No other country or program has sent astronauts to land on the Moon yet.

Two person vehicle. Each Lunar Module held two astronauts at a time and had special equipment to help them explore the Moon and collect rocks. The third astronaut on each mission stayed in the larger spacecraft orbiting above.

Going up and down. The Lunar Module had two main parts: a descent stage that brought astronauts down to the Moon, and an ascent stage that blasted them back up to rejoin the spacecraft in orbit.