Apollo 14 Was Launched in 1971

 Events
Jan 312024
 

Apollo 14

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

 Events
Feb 062024
 

Alan Shepard

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.

First Astronauts (Mercury Seven) Were Named in 1959

 Events
Apr 092024
 

First United States astronauts (Mercury Seven) were appointed in 1959. All seven original astronauts (Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton) were men, and they were all in the military. Children could investigate present astronaut requirements. Who are some of our present astronauts? How have astronaut requirements changed since the beginning of the program? Children could learn more at: Mercury Seven.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Nov 182024
 

Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre (born Cormeilles-en-Parisis, France, 1787; died near Paris, France, July 10, 1851) invented the first useful method of photography, the daguerreotype.

Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (born London, England, 1836; died May 29, 1911) was half of the famous Gilbert and Sullivan creative forces. Children could listen to some of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, possibly The Pirates of Penzance. They could read the operettas at: Project Gutenberg.

Alan Shepard

Alan Shepard

Alan Shepard (born East Derry, New Hampshire, 1923; died Monterey, California, July 21, 1998) was an astronaut and the first United States citizen to travel in space. In addition, he commanded Apollo 14 and spent 33 hours on the moon. Children could learn more at: Alan Shepard.