Recent images captured by India’s Chandrayaan 2 moon orbiter have revealed the Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 lunar modules on the moon’s surface over 50 years after their historic landings. The photos, taken in April 2021, were shared by the space exploration account Curiosity on X, which highlighted the enduring legacy of the Apollo missions. The Chandrayaan 2 mission, launched on July 22, 2019, coincided with the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11. The orbiter’s ability to capture such detailed images underscores advancements in lunar exploration technology.
Apollo 11, which landed on July 20, 1969, marked the first time humans set foot on the moon with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming the first to walk on its surface. Meanwhile, Apollo 12, which landed on November 19, 1969, saw Charles ‘Pete’ Conrad and Alan Bean follow in their footsteps. Both missions left behind their lunar modules on the moon, which have now been identified in Chandrayaan 2’s high-resolution imagery. This discovery not only confirms the historic achievements of the Apollo program but also highlights the ongoing interest in lunar exploration.
The images taken by Chandrayaan 2 provide a unique perspective on the moon’s surface, showcasing the remnants of the early space missions. As India continues its lunar exploration efforts, including the successful Chandrayaan 3 mission that recently landed near the moon’s south pole, these findings emphasize the lasting impact of human space exploration. The ability to revisit and analyze these historic sites decades later offers new insights into the challenges and achievements of space travel, reinforcing the significance of the Apollo missions in shaping modern space exploration.