Explore NASA's human spaceflight journey from Project Mercury to Artemis:
Session 1
From Mercury to the Moon: How NASA Learned to Fly in Space
How did NASA go from its first brief astronaut flights to landing men on the Moon in less than a decade? This class tells the story of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, with their daring missions, technical breakthroughs, national pressure, and unforgettable personalities. It is a look at the early years of America’s space program and the road to the lunar surface.
Session 2
From Moonshots to Long-Duration Flight: The Space Shuttle and Space Station Era
After Apollo, NASA entered a new era with the Space Shuttle and later the International Space Station. This class explores the triumphs, risks, and lasting impact of those programs, from launching satellites and repairing Hubble to building a permanent home in orbit. It is the story of how human spaceflight evolved from short adventures into an ongoing presence in space.
Session 3
Back to the Moon: Artemis, and NASA’s Next Chapter
NASA is heading back to the Moon, and this class explains what that means and why it matters. We will look at the Orion spacecraft, the Space Launch System, and the goals of the Artemis program as NASA begins a new chapter in human spaceflight. This is an overview of where America’s space program is today and where it hopes to go next.