Today is the 56th anniversary of Neil Armstrong's and Buzz Aldrin's walk on the Moon.
They had landed the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) (which was named Eagle), at 20:17:40 UTC on Sunday 20th July. After privately taking Communion, they then began to prepare to leave the LEM. Armstrong exited the LEM at 02.51 UTC, and Aldrin followed at 03:15 UTC. Having undertaken several tasks (including planting a US flag, leaving a plaque on the Moon’s surface, and collecting moon rock) they had returned aboard the LEM by 05.11 UTC. They then slept for about seven hours before preparing to take off at 17:54 UTC. They docked with the Apollo 11 capsule (which was named Columbia and that was piloted by Michael Collins) at 21:15 UTC, and after Eagle was jettisoned at 23.41 UTC, They began the journey back to Earth.
That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.
I can remember sitting up to watch the grainy image of Armstrong climbing down the ladder of the Lunar Excursion Module on our black and white TV and hearing him say his immortal words. (We had not yet bought one of the colour TVs that had been on sale in the UK for two years.) At the time, I felt that I had witnessed the dawn of a new age … but unfortunately, that was not to be, and after five more missions, man never again returned to the Moon.
I remember watching it on TV in school when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteMark Cordone,
DeleteWe were of a generation that was privileged to see such a great moment in history.
All the best,
Bob
I remember watching this as well -live on the BBC with Patrick Moore ?
ReplyDeleteThe Good Soldier Svjek,
DeleteI seem to remember that part of the coverage was in the hands of the incomparable James Burke of Tomorrow’s World fame. Nowadays it would probably be handled by Ant and Dec!
All the best,
Bob
I was around 8 years old at the time. My parents let my brothers and I stay up late to see the first man step onto the Moon. I fell asleep on the couch and missed it!
ReplyDeleteJhnptfrqn,
DeleteI suspect that you weren’t the only person who fell asleep and missed it … but at least you were there!
All the best,
BOB
My father got me up to watch it live. It was such a big event that the usual rules could be waived
ReplyDeletePompey Dave,
DeleteI think that a lot of families did something similar because it was such an important world event.
All the best,
Bob
Thanks Bob, interesting stuff! I had not realised how short a time thay spent on the moon's surface. I too remember (aged 6 ) being shown the 'live' (and very indistinct) TV transmisson very early in the morning - perhaps as the astronauts were still walking on the surface. The thing that stuck in my mind was that it must be really important because the TV was on before breakfast time, that never happened otherwise!
ReplyDeleteDavid in Suffolk,
DeleteThe LEM was only on the surface of the Moon for just over twenty-four hours, and Armstrong and Aldrin were out of the LEM for less than two and a half hours.
I can also remember when breakfast TV started in the UK in January 1983 … a far less important event!
All the best,
Bob
I know I watched it (and other Apollo and Gemini launches before and after), either at home or at school, as the case may be. But I can't say I remember watching it or any details about it or the circumstances I saw it in. Most of what I remember about it these days could just be from later clips and other media about the moon landings.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good thing (the whole Apollo program), and felt like it brought lots of people together. But yeah, it sadly slipped into history.
Fitz-Badger,
DeleteHaving been brought up on the series DAN DARE - PILOT OF THE FUTURE, I was an avid follower of all the space missions, and watched any launch (and recovery) that I could. The Apollo 11 mission was the most important of them and promised so much …
All the best,
Bob