Apollo 14 was launched in 1971! It was the third manned expedition to land on the moon. Commander Alan Shepard and Lunar Module Pilot Edgar Mitchell walked on the moon on February 5, while Command Module Pilot Stuart Roosa stayed in lunar orbit. Shepard and Mitchell collected over 94 pounds of lunar rocks, and Roosa carried several hundred seeds that were later germinated after their return to earth. Shepard actually “played golf” on the moon on February 6. Apollo 14 successfully returned to earth on February 9, 1971. Older children could learn more at: Apollo 14.
Alan Shepard in 1971 became the first person to play golf on the moon. Commander of Apollo 14, he and his crew left earth on January 31, 1971. They reached the moon on February 5, 1971. He smuggled two golf balls on the Apollo 14 flight and hit both of them with an assembled golf club. He stated that the balls went “miles and miles and miles.” However, the golf balls probably traveled between 200 and 400 yards. The crew returned safely to earth February 9, 1971. Students could learn more about Shepard at: Alan Shepard.
Bangladesh celebrates Independence Day. In 1971 Bangladesh declared its freedom from Pakistan. According to the CIA World Factbook, Bangladesh is about the size of the state of Iowa. About 161 million people live in the country, making it the eighth most populous country in the world. Dhaka is the capital. Farmers grow rice, jute, and tea in one of the rainiest climates in the world. Children can learn more at: Bangladesh.
Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library opened in 1971 in Austin, Texas. The building is also known as the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. It is the archive of 45 million pages of documents. Children can learn more at: lbjlibrary.org/.
Apollo 15 was launched in 1971. Astronauts David Scott and James Irwin landed safely on the moon on July 30 and used a four-wheeled vehicle, Rover 1, to travel across the surface. Astronaut Alfred Worden remained in the command module, Endeavor. The crew returned safely to earth on August 7, 1971. Apollo 15 was the fourth crewed mission to land on the moon. Children can learn more at: Apollo 15.
Astronauts David R. Scott and James B. Irwin drove the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) for six hours on the moon in 1971. The two men, plus Command Module Pilot Alfred M. Worden, lifted off aboard Apollo 15 on July 26, 1971. They spent close to three days on the moon and made two more trips aboard the LRV. The LRV could travel at rates between six and eight miles per hour. The crew successfully returned to earth on August 7, 1971. Children could learn more at: Apollo 15.
Qatar celebrates Independence Day. It declared its freedom from Great Britain in 1971. About the size of Connecticut, Qatar is now ruled by Sheik Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The country obtains most of its income from oil and banking. Over two million people live in Qatar, and Doha is the capital. Children can learn more at: Qatar.
London Bridge was moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, in 1971. Spanning the River Thames, London Bridge was built in 1831. However, by around 1970 the bridge was not structurally sound for modern traffic. The government planned to dismantle it. Robert P. McCulloch, founder of Lake Havasu City, purchased the bridge. The pieces were dismantled, numbered, shipped to Arizona, and reassembled. The bridge, connecting portions of Lake Havasu City, has become a tourist attraction.
Arches National Park in Utah was created in 1971. In 1929 the wind-eroded rock formations were declared a national monument. Then it became a national park. Children can visit a website at: Arches. There you will find excellent photographs, videos, and information for children. The video on Fiery Furnace is amazing!