Space travel has many roots and a large history. The study of space exploration may have dated back to 1609, when Johannes Kepler, a German mathematician, figured out equations for orbiting planets & satellites (Whitehouse). He determined that the planets move in ellipses (flattened circles) rather than true circles. Another famous

scientist in modern time, Isaac Newton, wrote the single greatest intellectual achievement of all time. In a single book he established the basic laws of force, motion, and gravitation and invented a new branch of mathematics in the process (calculus). This single act help our scientists immensely in figuring trajectories and equations still used today in space exploration. Without these revolutionary scientists, we may have never been able to travel through space as we do today. These marvels were small, but significant parts in space exploration history (Webb).

The illustrious moonwalk, which eluded scientists for years, had finally become a reality for not only Americans, but also the whole world. July 16, 1969 had come and the crew of Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., and Michael Collins was the crew to lead the United States to a lunar landing. Apollo 11 was the first lunar-landing mission. Armstrong and Aldrin landed the lunar module on the moon Neil Armstrong was ready to make his first steps. The words spoken by Neil Armstrong as he stepped on the lunar surface would echo throughout American history: “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” The world was watching and rejoicing, but there still was a scientific expedition to conquer. The lunar module spent 21 hours 36 minutes on the lunar surface, and the crew spent 2 hours 31 minutes outside the lunar module in a local area excursion on foot to a distance of approximately 160-ft from the landing site. Armstrong and Aldrin collected 22 kg (49 lb.) of lunar rocks and soil (Whitehouse). The Apollo 11 crew had made history. Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., and Michael Collins were all welcomed home by television cameras thousands of adoring Americans. America had done it. America had gone to the moon.

Space Exploration has been a huge part of American history. America led the world in technology and was becoming a world power. The United States had a successful economy and was still growing. The Unit

Some topics in this essay:
President Kennedy, , America America, Neil Armstrong, Roger Chaffee, Isaac Newton, Soviet Union, John Glenn, William Anders, Rendezvous LOR, space exploration, “space race”, apollo missions, neil armstrong, lunar module, lunar orbit, american history, apollo 11, orbit apollo, lunar landing, aldrin jr michael, armstrong edwin aldrin, orbit apollo 8, edwin aldrin jr, lunar orbit apollo,