The time of Space Age started earnestly in late 1950’s when Soviet Union and America engaged in the Cold War. Space Race set out between the two nations, which was the way to measure the scientific and technological advancements of both nations in the fast paced twentieth century. The Soviet Union stricken first when in January 1959 their Luna 1 finished the very first lunar fly-past then soon after that in September with Luna 2 they leave their first impact on moon.

The president of America Kennedy accepts the challenge in 1961, announcing that by the end of the decade, America would place a man on the moon- the race begins! Within 4 years (1961-1965) the Ranger Program of United States sent nine missions to the moon with the intention of collecting data. While in 1966 the Americans were beaten by Soviets placing the first ever craft on the surface of the moon with Luna 9 without crashing. After three months the Americans attained the same goal with Surveyor 1. In 1967 the American plan was tragically thrown into confusion when Apollo 1 was destroyed by burning, with the death of three of their astronauts on the board.

Despite this in 1968, the Americans set up their first manned craft Apollo 7 in the space, it spent a total of 11 days and revolved around the earth 163 times. After that in December 1968 Apollo 8 was launched which contains the Saturn V rocket which was so powerful to take the space vehicle into lunar range, it revolved around the moon and successfully came back to Earth. On 20 July 1969, Apollo 11 successfully landed spacemen and Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong on the moon. NASA, during next four years set up six more lunar missions, with the exclusion of Apollo 13 all of them were successful. Twelve astronauts landed on the moon during the Apollo program but after 1972, no missions to the moon have been launched.