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To the Moon in 11 years: A photographic timeline of Apollo

In just over a decade, NASA's Apollo program overcame tragedy and pioneered new technologies to reach the Moon.
By Amber Jorgenson | Published: May 31, 2019 | Last updated on May 18, 2023

Up Next

  • An illustration shows a boxy, gold-foil-wrapped spacecraft with a large black dish antenna on the left, positioned in front of a glowing, fiery sphere on the right against a solid black space background. The central sun-like orb ranges in color from dark, swirling reddish-browns to intense, bright yellow flare-like bursts around its edges. Several thin, metallic booms and antenna rods extend outward diagonally from the main body of the satellite, creating strong geometric contrast with the soft, fiery texture behind it.
    Robotic Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

    Sept. 13, 1994: Ulysses at the Sun’s south pole

  • A metallic grey sphere made of interlocking pentagonal and hexagonal tiles sits centrally against a bright, plain white background. Each brushed-metal tile is engraved with Cyrillic text, numerals, and small crest emblems, resembling a soccer ball structure. Overhead display lighting creates soft reflections on the upper hemisphere and subtle shadows along the lower curves.
    Robotic Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

    Sept. 12, 1959: Luna 2 launches

  • An illustration shows a cylindrical spacecraft floating centrally against a dark, painted background of deep purple and blue space speckled with white stars. The main metallic body features blue solar panels along its sides and a bright teal circular end, with numerous thin antennas and booms extending outward in all directions like spiky spokes. Even, bright lighting highlights the satellite's intricate shape against the dark starfield backdrop.
    Robotic Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

    Sept. 11, 1985: The ICE probe encounters Comet Giacobini-Zinner

  • A rectangular postage stamp with a red perforated border features an illustrated portrait of a man in a white spacesuit filling the right foreground. To the left, two connected grey spacecraft with solar panels extend diagonally above a blue-and-white view of Earth against a dark starry sky. Bold lettering, numerals, and small colored flags frame the upper corners and right side under even, bright lighting.
    Human Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

    Sept. 10, 1933: The birth of Yevgeny Khrunov

  • A monochrome, close-up photograph shows a diamond-shaped asteroid with a rough, gravel-like surface centered against a solid black background. Bright, direct lighting highlights thousands of tiny, reflective grey and white specks interspersed with dark, pitted shadows and scattered boulders. High contrast emphasizes its jagged, rounded perimeter and uneven, rubble-covered terrain.
    Robotic Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

    Sept. 8, 2016: OSIRIS-REx launches

  • A medium portrait shows a man in a grey suit jacket, collared shirt, and red-and-blue striped tie standing in the center foreground. Directly above him, a large white dish antenna suspended from overhead metal trusses dominates the upper background, alongside a slender, rocket-shaped object mounted horizontally to the left. Warm indoor lighting illuminates the subject, casting soft shadows across his face and the tan-colored walls behind him.
    Human Spaceflight, Robotic Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

    Sept. 7, 1914: The birth of James Van Allen

  • An abstract, brightly glowing cloud shape sits centered against a solid black background. The core of the formation glows bright white and yellow, surrounded by a greenish layer that diffuses into a larger, deep red outer haze. Tiny, multicolored pinpricks of light—mostly yellow, green, and white—are scattered across the central core and the dark space surrounding it.
    Robotic Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

    Sept. 5, 2001: The Milky Way has a black hole

  • Robotic Spaceflight

    Scientists watch as two satellites burn

  • A close-up view of mechanical equipment and a white dish antenna fills the right side and foreground of the frame, bathed in warm, yellowish-orange light. In the background, a vast, flat landscape covered in small, dusty rocks stretches toward a low horizon under a hazy, pale sky. Light contrast and muted earth tones dominate the scene, emphasizing the dry, rocky terrain.
    Robotic Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

    Sept. 3, 1976: Viking 2 reaches Mars

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