Private companies are competing to make space travel more accessible. SpaceX launched first US crewed mission to ISS in 2020. Boeing developing Starliner for ISS missions in 2021. Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic offer sub-orbital space tourism
Apollo 11 was the first US scheduled lunar landing mission. Mission launched July 16, 1969 and landed July 24, 1969. President Kennedy set national goal of crewed lunar landing in 1961
SLS is NASA's most powerful rocket, launched November 16, 2022. Can send Orion spacecraft, four astronauts, and cargo to Moon on single mission. Provides 24,500 mph speed needed for Moon missions. Currently in production for next four SLS flights
Apollo 11 launched July 16, 1969, becoming first Moon landing mission. Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin became first humans on Moon. Mission was televised worldwide, watched by hundreds of millions. Saturn V rocket launched flawlessly from Cape Kennedy
Sputnik launched October 4, 1957, marking first artificial satellite orbit. Space race began as Cold War competition for intercontinental ballistic missiles. Germany led rocket technology with V2, first operational long-range rocket