3, 2, 1, Blast Off! How Long Does It Actually Take To Get to the Moon?
Fascinating facts about our past and future trips to the moon.
It's hard to believe that the last manned moon landing was way back in 1972. However, new interest in moon travel is on the rise with NASA's planned Artemis 2 mission to fly around the moon, which is expected to happen in 2024. But how long does it take to get to the moon, exactly? We'll answer all of your questions here!
Although the astronauts will not be landing on the moon in 2024, their ten-day journey around the moon is paving the way for a future landing with Artemis 3. One of the reasons it is taking so long to have another moon landing is the cost. (Don't worry, we'll cover how much it costs to go to the moon as well.)
There are a lot of interesting facts on the subject, and we're taking an in-depth look at some of the most common questions about moon travel (plus, the excitement around the two upcoming Artemis missions!).
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How Long Does It Take To Get to the Moon?
On average, it takes approximately three days to get to the moon. The shortest amount of time taken to get to the moon on a manned spacecraft was with the Apollo 8 mission, which took 69 hours and 8 minutes.
Of course, it also depends on the spacecraft used to get to the moon. The fastest unmanned spacecraft was New Horizons, which took only 8 hours and 35 minutes.
Most recently, on November 16, 2022, Artemis 1 was launched using the Orion spacecraft. It took a total of 5 days, one hour and 10 minutes to travel to the moon's orbit. This was just over 121 hours. Although this was slower than earlier missions, the goal wasn't speed. The mission was to test the flight systems and new technology to prepare for a manned mission in 2024.
How Long Did It Take To Go to the Moon in 1969?
The very first moon landing happened in 1969 with the Apollo 11 mission. This was a great moment in history when astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took those first steps on the moon (the third astronaut on this mission, Michael Collins, remained in lunar orbit). They launched from the Kennedy Space Center on July 16, 1969, and arrived on the moon on July 20, 1969.
The total time taken for that first journey was 75 hours and 49 minutes—just a little over three days.
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How Far Away Is the Moon?
According to NASA, the distance from Earth to the moon is about 238,855 miles. This distance changes a little with the Earth's orbit. The closest distance is 221,500 miles and the furthest distance is 252,700 miles. The moon is also actually getting about an inch further away each year. However, that's not a lot of movement when you consider that there are 63,360 inches in one mile.
How Much Does It Cost To Go to the Moon?
A trip to the moon is not a cheap excursion. According to CBS, the Artemis program is estimated to cost nearly $93 billion by the end of 2025. Each of the first four flights will cost 4.1 billion. On top of the flight costs are the SLS rocket development program as well as the cost of the Orion spacecraft.
Related: 75 Best Moon Quotes for Starry Nights and Big Dreams
Is the Flag Still on the Moon?
Believe it or not, even though no man has walked on the moon in over half a century, some of the planted flags are likely still there. Photos taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2012 confirmed that the American flags were still on the moon at that time. There were a total of six flags put on the moon during the Apollo missions and the only one not there is the original flag.
Buzz Aldrin had seen the flag get knocked down as they were heading back to Earth after the last mission. The exhaust of the spacecraft during liftoff is what blew it over.
Even though five of the flags could be still standing, it's generally thought that they would be extremely faded.
How Many Times Have Humans Been to the Moon?
So far, there have been six missions to the moon. During those Apollo missions, 24 astronauts visited the moon and 12 of them walked on the moon's surface.
Who Was the First Person To Walk on the Moon?
Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon. He took those first steps in 1969.
Who Are the Astronauts Going to the Moon in 2024?
NASA announced in early April 2023 the names of the four astronauts who will be traveling around the moon on Artemis 2 in 2024. They are NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Hammock Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
When Is the Next Scheduled Trip To Land on the Moon?
Artemis 3 will be the next time astronauts step foot on the moon. This mission is expected to happen in 2025 or 2026, with the crew landing on the moon near the lunar south pole.
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