55 Years Ago, an Apollo 15 Astronaut Dropped a Hammer on the Moon

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On Aug. 2, 1971, astronaut David Scott performed a lunar experiment dropping a hammer and feather, demonstrating Galileo's theory that objects fall at the same speed in a vacuum.
The experiment was broadcast live, confirming the theory visually and reassuring mission control of its validity for return home.
Galileo used inclined planes for his experiments to reduce air resistance, and would have been pleased to see his ideas verified on the moon.
Scott and James Irwin conducted three EVAs during Apollo 15, collecting rock samples and honoring fallen astronauts.
The mission also featured a unique stand-up EVA where Scott observed surroundings from the lunar module.

Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin successfully landed the lunar module Eagle on the moon's Sea of Tranquility on July 20, 1969.
Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon, describing it as 'one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'
The astronauts collected rock and soil samples, deployed scientific experiments, and planted an American flag.

Artemis II launched on April 1 with four astronauts traveling toward the Moon, marking the first human mission beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.
The Orion capsule named Integrity broke multiple records, including farthest human distance from Earth and first woman, first person of color, and first Canadian near the Moon.
Artemis II is a shakedown flight testing crew systems in deep space, with a free-return trajectory around the Moon and a planned splashdown on April 10.

Two space startups, True Anomaly and Rocket Lab, completed a rendezvous mission for the U.S. Space Force, with their satellites meeting in orbit for close inspection.
The Victus Haze exercise demonstrated the ability to inspect space vehicles soon after launch, addressing gaps in U.S. collection capabilities against rivals like China and Russia.
Rocket Lab launched its Puma spacecraft within 16 hours of notice, while True Anomaly's Jackal intercepted it using onboard sensors from 2,000 km away and captured imagery.

Astronomers have detected evidence for a moon-like object orbiting a brown dwarf in the CD-35 2722 system.
If confirmed, this would be the first exomoon discovered outside our Solar System.
Unlike Solar System moons, it does not orbit a planet but a brown dwarf, challenging traditional definitions.

A Falcon 9 upper stage (2025-010D) from a 2025 lunar mission will impact the moon on August 5, 2026, at 06:34 UTC.
The object has been tracked by asteroid surveys and amateur astronomers, with over 1,000 observations.
Impact will occur near the crater Einstein on the near side of the moon, at latitude 19.455 N, longitude 266.406 E.

Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin successfully landed the lunar module Eagle on the moon's Sea of Tranquility on July 20, 1969.
Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon, describing it as 'one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'
The astronauts collected rock and soil samples, deployed scientific experiments, and planted an American flag.

Artemis II launched on April 1 with four astronauts traveling toward the Moon, marking the first human mission beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.
The Orion capsule named Integrity broke multiple records, including farthest human distance from Earth and first woman, first person of color, and first Canadian near the Moon.
Artemis II is a shakedown flight testing crew systems in deep space, with a free-return trajectory around the Moon and a planned splashdown on April 10.

Two space startups, True Anomaly and Rocket Lab, completed a rendezvous mission for the U.S. Space Force, with their satellites meeting in orbit for close inspection.
The Victus Haze exercise demonstrated the ability to inspect space vehicles soon after launch, addressing gaps in U.S. collection capabilities against rivals like China and Russia.
Rocket Lab launched its Puma spacecraft within 16 hours of notice, while True Anomaly's Jackal intercepted it using onboard sensors from 2,000 km away and captured imagery.

Astronomers have detected evidence for a moon-like object orbiting a brown dwarf in the CD-35 2722 system.
If confirmed, this would be the first exomoon discovered outside our Solar System.
Unlike Solar System moons, it does not orbit a planet but a brown dwarf, challenging traditional definitions.

A Falcon 9 upper stage (2025-010D) from a 2025 lunar mission will impact the moon on August 5, 2026, at 06:34 UTC.
The object has been tracked by asteroid surveys and amateur astronomers, with over 1,000 observations.
Impact will occur near the crater Einstein on the near side of the moon, at latitude 19.455 N, longitude 266.406 E.

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