Do you want to know more about NASA’s naming of its programs and modules?
In this article, you will learn why it was called Apollo. Moreover, where the name Apollo originates. So, why was Apollo called Apollo?
Project Apollo kept up the tendency to take inspiration from classical mythology.
On the surface, they may seem like impossible flights of fancy written by ancient philosophers.
But we must remember that these stories were written by people like Socrates, Aristotle, and Homer, whose bright minds have made them immortal in the annals of human history.
And Apollo was a significant God to the Greeks and the Romans.
Initially, the crew of Apollo 11 named the command module Snowcone and the lunar module Haystack. It was based on the shapes of the vehicles.
Nevertheless, NASA felt that these names did not inspire much confidence in the spacecraft or the mission. They were renamed Columbia and Eagle.
Furthermore, you will also find all names of the Apollo Program command and service modules (CSM) and lunar module (LM) modules below.
NASA’s first four human-crewed spaceflight projects were Mercury, Gemini, Skylab, and Apollo.
The second crewed spaceflight project initiated was the Apollo manned lunar exploration program.
President John F. Kennedy set forth the national goal of a human-crewed lunar landing in the 1960s on 25 May 1961.
The interim Project Gemini, completed in 1966, was conducted to provide spaceflight experience and training in preparation for the Apollo lunar-landing missions’ complexities.
Project Skylab was initially conceived as a space program to use Project Apollo’s hardware in related human-crewed spaceflight missions.
When and why was it named Apollo?
In July 1960, NASA prepared to implement its long-range plan beyond Project Mercury and introduce a human-crewed circumlunar mission project unknown at the NASA/Industry Program Plans Conference in Washington.
The director of Space Flight Development, Abe Silverstein, proposed the name “Apollo.”
He did that because it was the name of a god in ancient Greek mythology with attractive meanings.
The precedent for naming manned spaceflight projects after mythological gods and heroes had been set with Project Mercury.
Apollo was the god of music, poetry, arts, oracles, archery, herds and flocks, diseases, healing, light, knowledge, protection of the young, and most significantly, he was the god of the sun.
The god Apollo pulled the sun in its course across the sky each day in his horse-drawn golden chariot.
NASA approved the name and publicly announced “Project Apollo” at the July 28-29 conference.
So, Abe Silverstein took the name “Apollo” after perusing a mythology book at his home one evening in 1960.
Abe said the image of “Apollo riding his chariot across the Sun was appropriate to the grand scale of the proposed program.”
Project Apollo
Project Apollo took a new form when the goal of a human-crewed lunar landing was proposed to Congress by U.S. President John F. Kennedy on 25 May 1961 and was subsequently approved by Congress.
It was a program of three-person flights heading to the landing of astronauts on the lunar surface.
Rendezvous and docking around the Moon of Apollo spacecraft parts were essential techniques for the complex flight to return to Earth.
How many parts did the Apollo spacecraft comprise, and what are their names?
- Command Module
- The Service Module
- The Lunar Module
The Apollo spacecraft consisted of three modules.
- The command module (serving as the astronaut’s quarters and flight control section).
- The service module (containing spacecraft support systems and propulsion) and
- The lunar module (carrying two astronauts to the Moon’s surface, supporting them on the Moon, and returning them to the lunar orbit command and service module).
When did the module names come into use?
Module names came into use in 1962 when NASA made necessary determinations on the flight mode – lunar orbit rendezvous, the boosters, and the spacecraft for Project Apollo.
So, until June 1966, the lunar module was called the “LEM” or “the lunar excursion module.”
The NASA Project Designation Committee renamed it because the word “excursion” hinted at mobility on the lunar surface, and this vehicle did not have that capability.
The next Apollo flight, beginning with Apollo 15, carried the LRV, the lunar roving vehicle, or just “Rover,” to provide greater mobility for astronauts while on the Moon’s surface.
What were the code names for all the command and service modules (CSM) and lunar modules (LM)?
Beginning with Apollo 9, the code names for both the command and service module (CSM) and lunar module (LM) were chosen by the crew who were to fly on each mission.
The names of all CSM and LM
- Apollo 9 – “Gumdrop” (CSM), “Spider” (LM)
- Apollo 10 – “Charlie Brown” (CSM), “Snoopy” (LM)
- Apollo 11 – “Columbia” (CSM), “Eagle” (LM)
- Apollo 12 – “Yankee Clipper” (CSM), “Intrepid” (LM)
- Apollo 13 – “0dyssey” (CSM), “Aquarius” (LM)
- Apollo 14 – “Kitty Hawk” (CSM), “Antares” (LM)
- Apollo 15 – “Endeavour” (CSM), “Falcon” (LM)
- Apollo 16 – “Casper” (CSM), “Orion” (LM)
- Apollo 17 – “America” (CSM), “Challenger” (LM)
Why was the numbering for all Apollo missions changed?
The formula for numbering all Apollo missions was altered when the three astronauts scheduled for the first human-crewed flight lost their lives in a flash fire during launch rehearsal27 January 1967.
In honor of Astronauts Edward H. White II, Virgil I. Grissom, and Roger B. Chaffee, the planned mission was given the memorable name “Apollo 1,” although it was not launched.
Carrying the prelaunch designation AS-204 for the fourth launch in the Apollo Saturn IB series, the mission was officially recorded as the “First human crewed Apollo Saturn flight failed on the ground test.”
Manned Spacecraft Center Deputy Director George M. Low had requested consideration of the astronauts’ widows’ request that the name “Apollo 1”-used by the astronauts publicly and included on their insignia- be retained.
Consequently, the NASA Headquarters Office of Manned Space Flight recommended the new numbering, and the NASA Project Designation Committee declared the approval in April 1967.
The earlier, crewless Apollo Saturn IB missions AS-201, AS-202, and AS-203 were not given “Apollo” flight numbers.
Furthermore, no missions were named “Apollo 2” and “Apollo 3.”
So, the next Apollo mission flew, the first Saturn V flight (AS-501, for Apollo Saturn V No. 1), skipped numbers 2 and 3 to become Apollo 4 after launch into orbit on 9 November 1967.
Succeeding flights continued the sequence through 17.
When did we land on the Moon?
The Apollo program carried the first astronauts beyond the Earth’s gravity field and into lunar orbit on Apollo 8 in December 1968 and landed the first men on the lunar surface on Apollo 11 on 20 July 1969.
The program ended with Apollo 17 in December 1972 after putting 27 astronauts into lunar orbit and 12 on the lunar surface.
Photos, data, and lunar samples brought to Earth by the astronauts and data from experiments they left on the still transmitting data began to give a picture of the Moon’s nature and origin, contributing to the understanding of how the Earth had evolved.
The Influence of Apollo’s Name on Public Perception and Space Exploration
The name “Apollo” wasn’t just a random choice; it carried with it the weight of mythology and human aspiration. By naming the program after the Greek god of the sun, arts, and knowledge, NASA was subtly communicating the grandeur and importance of the mission. This choice resonated with people, creating a sense of awe and expectation.
Moreover, the name set a precedent for future space missions, both within NASA and internationally. It established a tradition of using names that evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity, a practice that has been followed in subsequent missions like “Voyager,” “Pioneer,” and “Curiosity.”
By choosing a name so rich in cultural and mythological significance, NASA did more than label a program; it inspired a generation and set the tone for future exploration. This is a testament to the power of a name, especially in an endeavor as monumental as space exploration.
Key Takeaway: The name “Apollo” did more than identify a program; it encapsulated the mission’s spirit, inspired a generation, and influenced the naming conventions in space exploration for years to come.
If you’re intrigued by the significance of the Apollo program’s name and want to delve deeper into its historic impact and benefits for humanity, be sure to check out our comprehensive article on The Apollo Program: A Historic Endeavor with Profound Benefits for Humanity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Why Did NASA Choose the Name “Apollo” for the Program?
A1: NASA chose the name “Apollo” based on its rich mythological and cultural significance. Apollo is the Greek god of the sun, arts, and knowledge, among other things. The name was proposed by Abe Silverstein, the director of Space Flight Development, to evoke a sense of grandeur and importance for the mission.
Q2: Were There Any Other Names Considered for the Apollo Program?
A2: Initially, the crew of Apollo 11 had named the command module “Snowcone” and the lunar module “Haystack” based on their shapes. However, NASA felt these names lacked the inspirational quality needed for such a monumental mission, leading to their renaming as “Columbia” and “Eagle.”
Q3: How Did the Naming of Apollo Influence Future Space Missions?
A3: The naming of the Apollo program set a precedent for future space missions to have names that evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity. This practice has been followed in subsequent missions like “Voyager,” “Pioneer,” and “Curiosity.”
Q4: Who Was Responsible for Naming the Individual Modules in Apollo Missions?
A4: Starting with Apollo 9, the astronauts who were to fly on each mission chose the code names for both the command and service module (CSM) and the lunar module (LM). For example, Apollo 11’s CSM was named “Columbia,” and its LM was named “Eagle.”
Q5: Why Was the Numbering for Apollo Missions Changed?
A5: The numbering for Apollo missions was altered after the tragic loss of the Apollo 1 crew in a flash fire during a launch rehearsal. In honor of the astronauts, the mission was given the name “Apollo 1,” even though it was not launched. This led to a renumbering of subsequent missions, skipping numbers 2 and 3 to start with Apollo 4.