Mission Moon

Take a very personal journey into space with NASA’s Captain James A. Lovell, Jr. and other trailblazing scientists who helped get us to the Moon.

In the Adler Planetarium’s Mission Moon exhibit, you’ll find out how the United States became the first nation to put a man on the Moon, what it’s really like to be an astronaut (directly from Captain Lovell himself), and why it takes a team to explore uncharted worlds.

Exhibition Highlights

Launch a stomp rocket through the atmosphere.
Read the historical timelines and objectives for all Gemini and Apollo missions.
Look inside the actual Gemini 12 spacecraft that in 1966 carried astronauts Captain Lovell and Buzz Aldrin into space.
Learn all about Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, Miriam Mann, and so many more hidden figures who helped get the United States to the Moon.
Take a selfie as if you were on the Moon.
Test your skills under pressure and see if you can turn on the Command Module systems in the right order to help conserve power in order to save life support systems—just like the astronauts had to on Apollo 13.
See a real rock from the Moon.
View Apollo-era objects, including Captain Lovell’s lunar surface EVA helmet, the Apollo 13 mission lunar plaque (that was to be put on the lunar surface), and more.
Pick up calls on real Mission Control telephone panels that were used to help coordinate and carry out successful missions.
Explore the surface of the Moon through the interactive digital Moon Wall.

Captain Lovell’s Story In His Own Words

Captain Lovell’s story is full of twists and turns, setbacks and successes. It’s the story of a national hero, but it’s also the story of a kid from Wisconsin who loved rockets. It’s the story of a husband and father whose supportive family helped him become extraordinary.

Deeper Exploration

Featured Online Exhibition: 13 Stories With Captain James Lovell

Listen to Captain Lovell narrate his memories and stories from the Apollo 13 and Gemini missions.

Featured Online Exhibition: Voices of Apollo

On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission landed on the Moon, just eight years after President John F. Kennedy promised, “We choose to go to the Moon.” Here we feature stories of those individuals who made the Moon landing possible, in their own words. Learn more about the individuals who made the Moon landing possible!