Exploration of the Moon

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/exploration-of-the-moon

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How heavy is Exploration of the Moon?382 kilograms (842 pounds)
2. What is the primary hypothesis for lunar origin?Giant-impact hypothesis
3. What is the key resource identified at lunar poles?Water ice
4. What was the first spacecraft to hit the Moon?The Soviet Luna 2 was the first spacecraft to hit the Moon, arriving in 1959.
5. How many Apollo missions landed on the Moon?Six Apollo missions (11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17) landed on the Moon and returned samples.

Giant-Impact Hypothesis: Theory that the Moon formed from debris after a massive collision with early Earth.
Lunar Regolith: A layer of loose, fragmented rock and dust on the Moon's surface, formed by meteorite impacts.
Resource Utilization (ISRU): Using local materials found on celestial bodies to support human exploration and settlement.