Apollo Program

Abe Silverstein, Director of Space Flight Development, proposed the name "Apollo" because it was the name of a god in ancient Greek mythology with attractive connotations and the precedent for naming manned spaceflight projects for mythological gods and heroes had been set with Mercury.

Project Apollo's goals went beyond landing Americans on the moon and returning them safely to Earth. They included:

• Establishing the technology to meet other national interests in space.

• Achieving preeminence in space for the United States.

• Carrying out a program of scientific exploration of the Moon.

• Developing human capability to work in the lunar environment.