18 Coolest Apollo Mission Pics

Recently, longtime NASA enthusiast Kipp Teague, compiled and released a collection of over 13,000 hi-resolution photos from the various Apollo space missions that ran from 1961 to 1972. President Kennedy had declared his goal of putting a man on the Moon and bringing him back by the end of the 1960's, and the Apollo missions succeeded in doing just that while capturing our imaginations in the process. These photos give never-before-seen insight into their amazing journeys.

Apollo 7

The instruments in the Apollo 7 space module seem dated now, but were cutting edge in 1968.

Apollo 8

Earth appears over the Moon's horizon. North and South America are obscured by clouds. The Apollo 8 crew were the first humans to witness Earthrise.

Apollo 8

The Apollo 8 astronauts were also the first humans to see the far side of the Moon. No, that isn't the Death Star.

Apollo 9

Command Module Pilot David Scott has a pretty sweet view as he leaves the Gumdrop for a spacewalk.

Apollo 9

Oh hey there! The ten day trip of Apollo 9 was crucial in testing maneuvers and techniques that would later put us on the Moon.

Apollo 10

Serving as the "dress rehearsal" for the first moon landing, Lunar Module Snoopy and Command Module Charlie Brown set the stage for one of the greatest feats in human history.

Apollo 11

Buzz Aldrin plants the American flag on the Moon on July 20, 1969. JFK's dream had come true.

Apollo 11

Space Selfie. You can see Neil Armstrong's reflection in Buzz Aldrin's helmet as he took the picture.

Apollo 11

One small step... that footprint will be on the Moon forever.

Apollo 12

The return trip to the Moon saw a more precise landing, and the crew bringing a color TV camera to the lunar surface.

Apollo 13

Dramatized in the 1991 movie of the same name, the third Moon landing had to be aborted after an oxygen tank explosion crippled the mission's Service Module. The crew was able to return safely, though, after they had ventured further than any humans had been from Earth. They're also remembered for the famed phrase: "Houston, we have a problem."

Apollo 14

Apollo FOREteen. Astronaut Alan Shepard hit two golf balls while on the Moon. Also, Command Module Pilot Stuart Roosa brought about 500 seeds with him into orbit for experiments on how they'd grow upon their return to Earth.

Apollo 15

The mission was the first to use the Lunar Roving Vehicle that allowed the astronauts to travel much further from the Lunar Module.

Apollo 15

Also, the astronauts erected a small memorial called the "Fallen Astronaut" dedicated to the American and Soviet astronaut and cosmonauts who had lost their lives in the name of space exploration.

Apollo 16

Astronauts John Young and Charles Duke spent 71 hours on the lunar surface and drove the Lunar Rover over 16 miles.

Apollo 16

Duke's words upon stepping on the Moon's surface were: "Fantastic! Oh, that first foot on the lunar surface is super!"

Apollo 17

Launched on December 7, 1972, Apollo 17 was the final mission to the moon.

Apollo 17

Though we've yet to go back, the Moon will always be up there, looking down, inviting us to one day return.