The Apollo Missions: Legends of Space

The Apollo Missions: Legends of Space
By Euronews
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Franck de Winne, Head of the European Astronaut Centre, talks about the impact of the Apollo missions.

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NASA’s Apollo programme had as its goal man’s landing on the moon and successful return to earth. On 27 January 1967, the first Apollo mission resulted in tragedy, when it failed to launch and its three astronauts died. Subsequently, six of the Apollo missions (11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17) achieved their aim, with the first moon landing taking place on 20 July 1969 as a result of the Apollo 11 mission.

Interesting Facts About the Apollo Missions You Didn't Know https://t.co/LyYf1hAnPH#apollo#moon#astronautspic.twitter.com/rV8ZjU09N1

— Blazing Science (@blazingscience) July 13, 2017

For euronews, Claudio Rosmino spoke to Franck de Winne, Head of the European Astronaut Centre, about the influence of the Apollo missions on his life and work.

“My first memory from the Apollo mission is when the landing was actually occuring on the Moon. I was about 8 years’ old at that time. I know that my parents got me out of bed in the middle of night to go and watch the landing, which was, of course, a very special event for me.

“Space missions like the Apollo missions are certainly an inspiration for future generations. During the era of the Apollo missions there was a big drive in science and technology, if you look the number of PhD students that graduated during that period in the US, but also here in Europe.

“We should go and explore the moon, to see if we can exploit the resources that are also available there, and to see if we can use it like a stepping stone to go further, eventually to realize our dream of having a man or a woman walking on Mars.”

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