Colonization of the Moon the Soviet leadership made some of its first public pronouncements about landing a man on the Moon and establishing a lunar base. Crewed exploration of the lunar surface began in 1968 when the Apollo 8 spacecraft orbited the Moon with three astronauts on board. This was mankind's first direct view of the far side. The following year, the Apollo 11 Apollo Lunar Module landed two astronauts on the Moon, proving the ability of humans to travel to the Moon, perform scientific research work there, and bring back sample materials. Additional missions to the Moon continued this exploration phase. In 1969,
Woodpecker in the Moon Woodpecker in the Moon Woodpecker in the Moon is the 92nd animated cartoon short subject in the "Woody Woodpecker" series. Released theatrically on July 13, 1959, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International. The cartoon opens with a narrative about man's desire to break away from Earth and explore outer space (the moon being the first goal in this quest). After many unsuccessful attempts to launch rockets to the moon (including three scientists trying to launch a typical firework rocket that blows up in their faces), Professor Dingledong becomes the first man to reach