The Apollo program was a series of space missions conducted by NASA, aimed at landing humans on the Moon and bringing them safely back to Earth. It began in 1961 and included a total of 17 missions, with Apollo 11 in 1969 being the first to successfully land astronauts on the lunar surface. The program was a significant achievement in the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The Apollo program utilized the Saturn V rocket, which was the most powerful rocket ever built. Astronauts like Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin played crucial roles in these missions, conducting scientific experiments and exploring the Moon's surface. The program concluded in 1972, leaving a lasting legacy in space exploration and technology.