The Coming End of an Era at NASA
Soon, if no mission returns to the moon, no one on Earth will have set foot on another world.
The Soviet Space Program Was Not Woke
Sending the first women into space isn’t the same as developing an astronaut program that values equality.
The Outdated Language of Space Travel
“Manned” spaceflight doesn’t make sense anymore.
The Secrets of Moondust
Lunar samples, untouched by Earth’s atmosphere for decades, will soon emerge from a NASA vault.
One Small Controversy About Neil Armstrong’s Giant Leap
When, exactly, did the astronaut set foot on the moon? No one knows.
‘The Fires of Their Ascent’
An excerpt from Of a Fire on the Moon, Norman Mailer’s seminal 1969 account of Apollo 11
The Best Banter From Apollo 11
Between the high-stakes maneuvers, the crew joked around, listened to music, and drank way too much coffee.
The Moon Landing Inspired Pink Floyd’s Most Overlooked Song
A bluesy, atmospheric piece that the band improvised live on the air during the Apollo 11 mission deserves to be more than a footnote of musical history.
Sometimes Even Newspapers Need Poetry
The New York Times tapped a polymath poet to celebrate the 1969 moon landing on its front page.
Apollo 11 Moon Landing: Photos From 50 Years Ago
Fifty photos of the historic Apollo 11 mission on the 50th anniversary of that “giant leap.”
The Apollo Engineer Who Almost Wasn’t Allowed in the Control Room
JoAnn Morgan stood out against the sea of men in skinny ties and glasses. But she was right where she belonged.
What Is the Apollo 11 Landing Site Like Now?
The American flag is bleached white. But some of the boot prints could remain undisturbed for tens of thousands of years.
The Most Compelling Photo of the Moon Landing
As Buzz Aldrin descended the lander’s ladder, Neil Armstrong captured the moment.
Michael Collins Liked His Alone Time
The Apollo 11 astronaut is famous for orbiting the moon in solitude.
The Fraught Effort to Return to the Moon
NASA wants to put people back on the lunar surface in 2024, but it doesn’t have the budget.
Your Smart Toaster Can’t Hold a Candle to the Apollo Computer
Despite what everyone says about the power of modern devices, they’re nowhere near as capable as the landmark early NASA system.
The Watch That Went to the Moon
Fifty years ago, Buzz Aldrin wore his Omega Speedmaster Professional on the lunar surface. It’s been an icon—and a bestseller—ever since.
A Time Capsule of the Moon Landing
NASA employees and civilians remember the 1969 lunar landing.
Bound for the Moon: Apollo 11 Preparation in Photos
Images of some of the training, preparation, and daily life that occupied the Apollo 11 astronauts and their NASA support team in the months leading up to launch day
The Moment That Made Neil Armstrong’s Heart Rate Spike
Real-time data from the Apollo 11 astronauts, carefully monitored by Mission Control, capture the frenzied maneuvers that put men on the moon.
What John F. Kennedy’s Moon Speech Means 50 Years Later
“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”
What Will the Moon Landing Mean to the Future?
Nearly 50 years after Neil Armstrong first set foot on the lunar surface, it’s clear that Apollo 11 will haunt the human imagination for a long time to come.
‘It Satisfies Every Childlike Curiosity’
Don DeLillo's literary interpretation of an astronaut’s “endlessly fulfilling” view of our home planet
The Absurdity of the First Man Flag Controversy
The film is a 141-minute commercial for a uniquely American brand of determination and achievement.