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Alternate Apollo

© b.w. white

By 1972 the Apollo program successfully landed 12 men on the surface of the moon. Six lunar surface missions encompassed Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17. What of, however, the landing sites that were on the original list of exploration, but were canceled because of budget cuts? Why were they cut from the program and how did the remaining missions create the assumption that Apollo was successful.

Since the call to go the moon was initiated in 1962, most were focused on how to actually send an astronaut there and get him back. Up until 1967, planners only casually considered where astronauts would land. The Surveyor probes, which were sent to the moon to gather data and take pictures, did a good job of finding the best places for the first manned flights to land.

Finally by July 1969, with detailed pictures taken by Apollo 8 and 10, the Apollo Site Selection Board (ASSB) created a working list of 10 possible landing sites. The list would change quite a few times before the Apollo program ended. Although, before giving the go ahead to actually land at a site several other groups at NASA had to give the green light. The process was bureaucratic to say the least. Apollo 11 determined that a landing was possible in July 1969, and that astronauts would not sink into the surface, it was up to Apollo 12 to determine if a precise landing could be made. After Apollo 12 was successful in November, several more rugged sites were offered as possible targets. Also, 11 and 12 answered many of the broader questions about the moon such as chemical composition and age. With these questions answered, planners could look to specific questions about the moon. Also, just like the Surveyor probes and Apollo missions before them, observations from 11 and 12 help define landing locations for the next missions. By the close of 1960 NASA had met it goals of landing men on the moon and it was assumed that at least 8 more missions would go back to the moon.

Unfortunately, by early 1970 Apollo 20 was cut from the program. This put a terrific strain on planners who now had to squeeze as much science as possible into the remaining flights. Apollo 13 was scheduled to land at the Frau Mauro highlands, a place surrounded by vast hills and interesting craters. Another plus for the site was that samples from this area could answer specific questions about the creation of the vast Mare’s (or seas) on the moon. Although, we all know that Apollo 13 never landed on the moon. Scientists and planners lost another chance to study the moon. Because of the believed importance of the Frau Mauro site, Apollo 14 made a landing in this region about a year later.

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