Between 1959 and 1973, largely due to the “Cold War” where both the world was worried about a nuclear threat, there was an intense race to “get to the moon” first.
Between 1969 and 1973, 12 humans walked and drove on the moon collecting tons of rocks for scientific research back on Earth.
The Apollo program, the culmination of President Kennedy’s mandate to “Before this decade is out, send men to the moon, and bring them back safely”, was a scientific success, although a number of people - American and Russians, died in the attempt.
The Russians landed unmanned spacecraft on the moon, including the first images transmitted back home. Included are some of these images.
At the end of the “race”, the Russians and Americans joined forces to make a joint orbital mission - Apollo-Soyuz.
We have not been back to the moon since, but plans are underway - by the US, China, Japan, and a joint Russian-European effor
Click here for some pictures of the moon and the missions.
Click here for some video.
In December 2007, a Japanese spacecraft (Kaguya) shot the first HD videos while in orbit around the moon.
Click here to see.