SPACE

Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin share a laugh with President Richard Nixon while aboard the USS Hornet on July 24, 1969.

Richard Nixon Had a Speech Prepared In the Event That Apollo 11's Mission Failed

In the event that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were stranded on the moon, William Safire wrote a heartbreaking letter for the president to read.

Astronaut Eugene A. Cernan mans a Lunar Roving Vehicle during the Apollo 17 mission.

Get The Details On All 21 Successful Moon Landings With This Interactive Map

Apollo 11’s 50th anniversary is a great opportunity to explore the history of Moon landings with Smithsonian.com’s handy map.

Margaret Hamilton, lead Apollo flight software engineer, in the Apollo Command Module.

Meet Margaret Hamilton: The Woman Behind the Apollo Project

When Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the surface of the Moon in July of 1969, software was a relatively new development. In fact, the Moon mission was one of the first times this kind of engineering was used in such a fundamental way. History was being wri

The 12 Men Who Walked on the Moon

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made history in 1969 when they became the first people to step foot on the Moon. Ten others have followed in their footsteps.

LEGO Built a Life-Sized Astronaut Model to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11

The 6-foot-3-inch model took 300 hours and 30,000 LEGO blocks to build. It matches the astronaut suits worn during the 1969 Moon landing.

A Half-Blood Thunder Moon Will Light Up Tonight’s Sky

The half-blood thunder moon—a partial lunar eclipse that coincides with a full moon in July—falls on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch.

The Saturn V rocket lifts off with the Apollo 11 mission on July 16, 1969.

CBS Is Live-Streaming Its 1969 Coverage of the Apollo 11 Launch Right Now on YouTube

Tune into CBS’s live stream of its 1969 coverage of the Apollo 11 mission launch, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing.

11 Things You Might Not Know About Neil Armstrong

No matter where private or government space travel may take us in the future, Neil Armstrong will forever have a place as the first human to ever set foot on solid ground outside of our atmosphere.

July Is the Best Time to See Saturn and Its Rings This Year

Saturn reached opposition this month, which means now is the ideal time to see the second-largest planet in our solar system from your backyard.

8 Facts About David Bowie's 'Space Oddity'

On July 11, 1969—just weeks before the Apollo 11 landing—David Bowie's iconic single 'Space Oddity' was released.

The Saturn V rocket takes off on July 16, 1969.

The Washington Monument Is Transforming Into a Full-Scale Saturn V Rocket for the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing

Find out when and where you can watch the full-scale projection, accompanied by a short film about the 1969 Moon landing.

NASA/Liaison/Hulton Archives, Getty Images

50 Facts About the Apollo 11 Moon Landing

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the Moon—and Buzz Aldrin became the first one to pee on it.

Joshua Hicks, iStock / Getty Images Plus

Here's How to Livestream Today's Total Solar Eclipse

A total solar eclipse will be visible over South America today, July 2, 2019—but you don't need to catch a plane to see it live.

See NASA’s Breathtaking Photo of a Volcanic Eruption From Space

A small island volcano that has been dormant since 1924 erupted this week. Astronauts photographed it from the International Space Station.

Dairy Queen Is Celebrating Apollo 11’s 50th Anniversary With Its Zero Gravity Blizzard

The super sweet frozen treat—made with Oreo cookie bits, sparkly soft serve, and colorful sprinkles—celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing.

The International Space Station Will Start Accepting Visitors … For $58 Million

Now you can travel to the International Space Station for $58 million, but that doesn't include the $35,000 additional fees per night.

You'll Be Able to See Jupiter's Moons With a Pair of Binoculars Next Week

The best time to see Jupiter in 2019 is early next week—that's when when the gas giant comes closest to Earth and appears its brightest in the night sky.

LEGO Releases Lunar Lander Module Set for Apollo 11's 50th Anniversary

The LEGO Creator Expert Apollo 11 Lunar Lander module set recreates many of the details of the original spacecraft in 1087 interlocking pieces.

The First Total Solar Eclipse in Two Years Is Coming in July

On July 2, 2019, a total solar eclipse will be visible from Earth for the first time since the Great American Eclipse of 2017. Here's where to see it.

6 Amazing Facts About Sally Ride

Sally Ride—the first American woman in space—paved the way for female astronauts, and proved there is such thing as a stupid question.

Phil Plait, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0

Neil Armstrong’s Spacesuit Will Go Back on Display for Apollo 11's 50th Anniversary

Neil Armstrong's iconic suit was pulled from the museum floor out of fear of deterioration, but after a conservation project, it's ready to go back on display.

What Is the Kitchen Like on the International Space Station?

The ISS doesn't have a full-fledged kitchen like we picture here on Earth, but there are sections designated for the astronauts to prepare food and eat.

The Northern Lights Could Be Visible Over Parts of the U.S. This Week

Recent solar activity could make the northern lights visible at lower latitudes than usual May 15 to May 17.

An image of a different asteroid, called Lutetia

Mark Your Calendars: An Enormous Asteroid Will Fly Past Earth on April 13, 2029

The good news: The asteroid Apophis isn't going to wipe out life as we know it, so we can sit back, relax, and enjoy the celestial show!

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