Map the Six Apollo Moon Landing Sites

Based on: Earthrise – My Adventures as an Apollo 14 Astronaut By Edgar Mitchell, Chicago Review Press, 2014

Map the Apollo Moon Landing Sites

Photo of the Moon from Apollo 11, Courtesy NASA

There were six Apollo missions that landed astronauts on the Moon including: Apollo 11, Apollo 12, Apollo 14, Apollo 15, Apollo 16, and Apollo 17. Each Moon mission explored a different part of the Moon and had a specific landing site. Apollo 13 was heading to the Moon, but returned to Earth due to a spacecraft malfunction. For this activity, draw a picture of the Moon and indicate where each mission landed.

Approximate age range: fifth to eighth grade Objective: To help young people learn about the Apollo missions.

You’ll Need: * Computer with Internet access * Poster board (20 by 24 inches, 50.8 by 60.9 cm) * Pen or Pencil * Colored pencils * Markers

1. For overviews of Apollo missions 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17, check out:

Apollo 11: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo11info.html

Apollo 12: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo12info.html

Apollo 14: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo14info.html

Apollo 15: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo15info.html

Apollo 16: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo16info.html

Apollo 17: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo17info.html

2. For each Apollo mission, write down the name of the mission, the names of the astronauts and their titles, the launch date, when the lunar module landed on the Moon, the name of the Landing Site, and the date the astronauts returned to Earth.

For example,

Name of mission: Apollo 11 Astronauts: Neil A. Armstrong, Commander Michael Collins, Command Module Pilot Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., Lunar Module Pilot Launch date: July 16, 1969 Landing on Moon: July 20. 1969 Landing Site: Sea of Tranquility Return to Earth: July 24, 1969

2. Now, check out the following website that shows the locations of the landing sites: “Exploring the Apollo Landing Sites” at www.boulder.swri.edu/~durda/Apollo/landing_sites.html

For a more detailed map of the Moon that shows the Apollo Lunar Landing Sites in green, go to:http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/moon_landing_map.jpg

3. On your poster board, draw the Moon and place a colorful dot or rectangle at the approximate location of each lunar landing site. Write the name of the landing site next to the dot or rectangle.