Back to the Moon! Measurement & Data Article for Students

On July 20, 1969, 530 million people around the world were glued to their TVs. They watched live as astronauts walked on the moon for the first time.

Today, 50 years after that incredible accomplishment, NASA is preparing to send people back to the moon. It will build a spaceship that will orbit, or travel around, the moon. The ship, called the Gateway, will be a home base for astronauts to explore the moon’s surface.

On July 20, 1969, 530 million people around the world were glued to their TVs. They watched live as astronauts walked on the moon for the first time.

It’s been 50 years since that incredible accomplishment. Now NASA is preparing to send people back to the moon. It will build a spaceship that will travel around the moon. The ship will be called the Gateway. It will be a home base for astronauts to explore the moon’s surface.

A visit to the moon would be a valuable test run for future missions to faraway planets, like Mars. There’s still much scientists still don’t know about the moon. While they are there, they can learn more about it.

NASA engineers are currently designing the Gateway. The first section of the spaceship could launch as soon as 2022. The Gateway will have research labs and room for astronauts to live in for up to three months.

“We’re not just landing on the moon and coming home, we’re going to stay,” says Marshall Smith. He manages the Gateway project at NASA. “It’s tremendously exciting.”

A visit to the moon would be a valuable test run for future missions. Especially ones to faraway planets, like Mars. There’s still much scientists still don’t know about the moon. While they are there, they can learn more about it.

NASA engineers are currently designing the Gateway. The first section of the spaceship could launch as soon as 2022. The ship will have research labs. It will have room for astronauts to live in for up to three months.

“We’re not just landing on the moon and coming home. We’re going to stay,” says Marshall Smith. He manages the Gateway project at NASA. “It’s exciting.”

What is the title of the circle graph?

Look at the circle graph. Which Apollo mission collected the most rock and soil samples?

In the circle graph, about one-fourth of rock and soil samples were collected during the _________ mission.

Which two Apollo missions collected about the same number of rock and soil samples?

Look at the chart. Which types of rock do you think are most common on the moon? Why?

The Apollo 11 mission took astronauts to the moon in 1969. The Apollo 17 mission happened in 1972. Compare the number of samples collected on these two missions.