The Apollo missions that landed astronauts on the Moon utilized carefully calculated trajectories and precise maneuvers to account for the Moon's motion as it orbits around the Earth. Although the Moon is indeed in motion, it moves in a predictable and well-understood manner, allowing space agencies to plan and execute successful lunar landings.
Here's a simplified overview of how astronauts landed on the Moon despite its motion:
Translunar Injection (TLI): The Apollo spacecraft launched from Earth and entered Earth's orbit. After completing a few orbits around the Earth, the spacecraft performed a maneuver called Translunar Injection (TLI). This burn of the spacecraft's engines propelled it out of Earth's orbit and onto a trajectory towards the Moon.
Course Corrections: During the journey to the Moon, the spacecraft would make course corrections based on the mission's trajectory calculations. These corrections would ensure that the spacecraft stayed on the right path to intercept the Moon.
Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI): Once the spacecraft approached the Moon, it performed another engine burn known as Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI). This maneuver allowed the spacecraft to be captured by the Moon's gravity and enter into a lunar orbit.
Descent to the Lunar Surface: From the lunar orbit, the Lunar Module (LM) separated from the Command Module (CM) and began its descent towards the Moon's surface. The descent trajectory was carefully calculated to account for the Moon's motion and gravitational effects.
Powered Descent and Landing: During the powered descent, the LM's descent engine fired to slow down the spacecraft's descent and allow for a controlled landing. Astronauts onboard the LM monitored the descent and made adjustments as necessary to ensure a safe landing.
In summary, the astronauts and their spacecraft were launched towards the Moon with precise calculations to account for the Moon's motion. Once in the vicinity of the Moon, the spacecraft followed a carefully planned trajectory, utilizing engine burns and maneuvers to align with the Moon's gravitational pull and make a controlled descent to the lunar surface. The success of the Apollo missions demonstrated the capability of navigating through space and landing on a moving celestial body like the Moon.