It was 50 years ago this week that Apollo 11’s commander, Neil Armstrong, took that historic first step onto the Moon’s surface, with Buzz Aldrin following 19 minutes later.
Having just watched the excellent film First Man, a character driven narrative covering Neil Armstrong’s life leading up to Apollo 11 – I was struck by what a humble man he was given the extraordinary achievements he made. It was a fitting time to watch this film.
Lift Off, Touch Down
Many moons ago, we were a family of space enthusiasts – watching nearly every launch up to the first Moon landing.
While Apollo 11’s liftoff occurred on 16 july, I remember that historic night (nearly 11pm on the east coast) of 20 july 1969, watching as a child with my family. I wondered if there were really little green men up there.
In the Houston command center, astronauts Charles Duke, Jim Lovell and Fred Haise listen in during Apollo 11's descent.
We anxiously waited for Neil Armstrong to open the hatch of the lunar module (LM) named The Eagle, climb down the ladder, and place his footprint on the Moon – the first human to do so. Beaming previously unthinkable images live from the Moon, in real time, with Walter Cronkite narrating – it was thrilling!
"Houston, Tranquillity Base here, The Eagle has landed." Neil Armstrong
And a huge shared experience – as the world watched too – an estimated 650 million people watched the Moon walk coverage. The first Moon landing is burned into my memory. I’m sure Cronkite’s reporting – with his memorable voice and delivery – had a lot to do with it.
Broadcasters and reporters were provided a cheat sheet: A drawing to explain the technical aspects of Apollo 11's lunar module.
As the transmission continued, and the moment grew nearer, a silence took over our living room. We strained to hear that iconic sentence as Armstrong’s foot grew nearer to the surface:
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Neil Armstrong
It was a magical and surreal moment. If we made it to the Moon, where else would space exploration take us?
For more than two-and-a-half hours Armstrong and Aldrin explored the Moon’s surface, collected samples and data, and took photographs. In total, they spent 21 hours and 36 minutes there. Command module pilot, Michael Collins remained in orbit around the Moon on the Columbia, preparing for the return rendezvous.
The shadow of Neil Armstrong looms on the Moon's surface as he documents the LM. I love this beautiful shot – its vastness and (one assumes) its silence, and the darkness of space.
This iconic image is of Buzz Aldrin – not Armstrong as many assume. The latter is reflected in Aldrin's visor, taking the shot. Note the long shadow, and the boot prints in the foreground.
Ten more humans would follow Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the Moon’s surface. Overall nine Apollo missions flew between December 1968 and December 1972. NASA has not returned to the Moon since.
The New York Times front page on 21 july 1969, the day after the Moon walk.
Questions from the Curious
There are a few things that I’ve always wondered about, so I’ve done a bit of research.
Q: Is the flag still on the Moon, and can you see it through a telescope?
A: Yes, the Apollo 11 flag is still on the Moon’s surface (though it is not upright, and likely faded and decomposed). No, there’s no telescope powerful enough to see it (or flags from later missions) from Earth. Details here.
Q: How far did Armstrong and Aldrin travel on the Moon?
A: Since this was a first, NASA didn’t want the astronauts straying too far from the LM. Their walk was estimated to be about a half mile.
Q: Did the astronauts leave any personal effects on the Moon?
A: NASA allowed the astronauts PPKs or Personal Preference Kits. Each kit item had to be NASA-approved for weight and safety. While Armstrong never fully detailed the contents of his kit, First Man biographer, James Hansen, reported this.
A rather ordinary looking drawstring bag is the Personal Preference Kit holder and the NASA manual on the right includes all details about the lunar photography from Apollo 11's mission.
Q: If Neil Armstrong was the first human to walk on the Moon’s surface, who/what was filming The Eagle landing and his exit from the LM?
A: According to NASA, requirements for recording and transmission included “two 16mm Maurer motion picture film cameras, a color television camera in the orbiting Columbia, and a black and white TV camera outside of the lunar module to transmit to Earth Neil Armstrong's first steps on the Moon's surface.”
Little Known Facts
My favorite fact (and kind of terrifying) is that the lunar spacesuits were made by Playtex – yes, the lingerie company famous for its bras. How did that happen?
Contrary to long-held beliefs, nearly all of the astronaut still images on the Moon’s surface are of Buzz Aldrin, shot by Neil Armstrong.
Historical Resources
In retrospect, Apollo 11's documentation is fascinating. Watch Apollo 11 videos here. Listen to the audios, or read the transcripts here.
This article from Variety details the logistics and estimated costs of the television coverage.
To commemorate Apollo 11's 50th anniversary, many televised events are planned. Watch the original CBS broadcasts here. PBS has been running its Summer of Space programs, while CNN is currently airing its documentary, Apollo 11, created from unseen archival footage.
So exciting!
Spaceline entrepreneurs include Richard Branson founder of Virgin Galactic, and Eric Anderson, founder of Space Adventures. If money and time were no object, would you sign up to go into orbit… and maybe beyond?
Photos: Top image is a frame capture from the transmission video; Moon surface shots, the command center, the photography manual, and the badge certification are from NASA. All images are in the public domain. | Lunar drawing © Associated Press from the Alan Paris Collection | PPK bag © Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum
