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MOON LANDINGS | Looking back to the Apollo lunar missions

About this collection

On 20 July 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. This BBC Archive collection tells the story of the Apollo moon missions, how they got off the ground and why the missions came to an abrupt end.

Through over 40 years of radio and TV broadcasts, we meet some of the men who made that incredible journey and the reporters who brought their stories into our homes. We examine the legacy of the space race and look ahead to the future, when mankind might make that giant leap once again.

Moon Landings Collection

Patrick Moore examines a model of a moon crater.

The Sky at Night

The Moon

BROADCAST 1960
15 MINUTES

Man goes into space - next stop: the moon!

go to The Sky at Night: The Moon
The moon.

Interview

Dr James Ring

RECORDED 1961
7 MINUTES

An astronomer states the case for putting telescopes on the moon.

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Patrick Moore inspects a map of the moon.

The Sky at Night

Life on the Moon

BROADCAST 1961
15 MINUTES

Is there life on the moon?

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BBC reporter Reg Turnill.

News

Apollo 11 Landing: Precautions ...

BROADCAST 1969
4 MINUTES

Reg Turnill explores NASA's quarantine facilities.

go to News - Apollo 11 Landing: Precautions v Moon Bugs
BBC reporter Reg Turnill.

News

On the Eve of Apollo 11 Launch

BROADCAST 1969
6 MINUTES

What will the Apollo astronauts actually be doing on the moon?

go to News: On the Eve of Apollo 11 Launch
Robin Day.

Panorama

The Impact on Earth

BROADCAST 1969
49 MINUTES

Was the race to get man on the moon a waste of money?

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The first human footprint on the surface of the moon. © Getty Images

News

Apollo 11's Lunar Samples

BROADCAST 1969
3 MINUTES

A British scientist awaits samples of moon dust.

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Patrick Moore at home in his study.

The Sky at Night Special

1969, Year of Space

BROADCAST 1969
27 MINUTES

Remembering the moon landings and exploring the solar system.

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Patrick Moore and James Burke aboard a replica of a NASA moon buggy.

The Man Who Shot at the Moon

BROADCAST 1970
37 MINUTES

An interview with former NASA chief Dr Thomas Paine.

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A crater on the moon.

Today

Apollo 15

BROADCAST 1971
3 MINUTES

Reg Turnill reports on Apollo 15's discovery of the 'Genesis Rock'.

go to Today: Apollo 15
Presenter Gareth Jones.

Spaced Out

BROADCAST 1995
27 MINUTES

A Christmas conversation about the moon.

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Trainee astronaut Jerrie Cobb. © Getty Images

Right Stuff, Wrong Sex

Female Astronauts

BROADCAST 1997
39 MINUTES

How 13 women were blocked from joining NASA's space program.

go to Right Stuff, Wrong Sex: Female Astronauts
Presenter Michael Portillo.

The Things We Forgot to ...

Apollo 8

BROADCAST 2005
27 MINUTES

Michael Portillo revisits the race to the moon.

go to The Things We Forgot to Remember: Apollo 8
Presenters of the BBC's coverage of the first moon landings (from left to right): Patrick Moore, Cliff Michelmore and James Burke, standing in front of a large photograph of the moon.

The Sky at Night

A Night to Remember

BROADCAST 2006
118 MINUTES

Looking back to 20 July 1969.

go to The Sky at Night: Apollo 11 - A Night to Remember
Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi. © Getty Images

Fly Me to the Moon

1

BROADCAST 2007
27 MINUTES

Which will be the next nation to reach the moon?

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The logo of ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation. © Getty Images

Fly Me to the Moon

2

BROADCAST 2007
27 MINUTES

Why should any nation need to go to the moon again?

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Sir Patrick Moore.

The Sky at Night

Last Man on the Moon

BROADCAST 2007
29 MINUTES

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of 'The Sky at Night' with Eugene Cernan.

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Former Apollo astronaut Alan Bean.

James May Speaks to

Alan Bean

RECORDED 2009
32 MINUTES

The artist astronaut of Apollo 12.

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Former Apollo astronaut Charles Duke.

James May Speaks to

Charles Duke

RECORDED 2009
24 MINUTES

The Apollo 16 astronaut finds his way on the moon.

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Former Apollo astronaut Harrison Schmitt.

James May Speaks to

Harrison Schmitt

RECORDED 2009
30 MINUTES

The scientist astronaut of Apollo 17.

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