The Race of the Century

July 1969, and the race was heating up between the USSR and the US. On July 13, the Soviet Union launched Luna 15.

It's aim was to bring back the very first samples of lunar dust and rocks back to Earth.

Meantime, on July 16 of that year, Apollo 11 was launched with the aim of landing 2 American astronauts on the lunar surface for the very first time in human history with the same intention of bringing back the first lunar samples to Earth, and we all know what happened.

At the time the big question was....Who was going to be the first to win the race?

Unfortunately for the Soviets, the Luna probe crashed, but the astronauts of Apollo 11 successfully landed on the Moon, and with the success of this mission, the US space program began 3 years of lunar exploration by sending 6 more missions to the lunar surface.

What a great time to be alive and see it all happen!

This is a small diorama that I sell on my site paying tribute to the greatest achievement in human history....Apollo 11 on the Moon....July 20, 1969.

Like it says on the plaque left behind on the Moon that day...."We Came in Peace For All Mankind."

God willing, and my hope is the US will be back there real soon, and this time to stay, as well as to go on to Mars, and beyond.

To see the same determination and steadfastness that was demonstrated during the 1960's come back to be a major part of NASA's goal in the future would be of great benefit for all mankind.