Exploration of the Moon Exploration of the Moon The physical exploration of the Moon began when Luna 2, a space probe launched by the Soviet Union, made an impact on the surface of the Moon on September 14, 1959. Prior to that the only available means of exploration had been observation from Earth. The invention of the optical telescope brought about the first leap in the quality of lunar observations. Galileo Galilei is generally credited as the first person to use a telescope for astronomical purposes; having made his own telescope in 1609, the mountains and craters on the lunar surface were among his
First Men to the Moon investigating the interior of the moon using seismograph-equipped solid propellant rockets. According to WorldCat, the book is in 413 libraries. Floyd C. Gale said that the fictional moon trip was "highly detailed and absorbing", and praised the "exceptional" illustrations. He concluded that "Even the best grounded SF buff will find new and astonishing material over which to dream". First Men to the Moon First Men to the Moon is a novel by rocketry expert Wernher von Braun, published in 1960. It tells the story of John Mason and Larry Carter, fictional astronauts traveling to the moon. Von Braun's book is