July 20, 1969: One Small Step ... One Giant Leap ...
Tony Long 07.20.07
Buzz Aldrin is photographed walking near the lunar module during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity on July 20, 1969.Photo: Associated Press
1969: The Soviet Union was first to land a spacecraft on the moon, in 1959, but NASA's Neil Armstrong becomes the first human to set foot on the lunar surface, realizing humanity's age-old dream. And effectively winning the space race for the United States.
Armstrong and fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin left the Apollo 11 command module (piloted by Michael Collins) in orbit and performed a landing in the lunar module Eagle. At 4:18 p.m. EDT, Armstrong announced to a watching and waiting world that "The Eagle has landed." Six-and-a-half hours later, he stepped onto the powdery surface with the words, "That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Aldrin soon followed Armstrong down the ladder to become the second man to stand on the moon.
The mission was by no means a slam dunk. There was real fear that once on the lunar surface the astronauts might end up marooned and beyond rescue. In fact, President Nixon had a condolence speech ready to go in the event things turned out badly. Things went as planned, however, and Armstrong and Aldrin returned to the command module after leaving behind a plaque inscribed with the words: "Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon, July 1969 AD. We came in peace for all mankind."
Five more Apollo missions carried astronauts to the moon before the program ended in 1972. (There were to have been six, but Apollo 13's mission ended in near disaster.) The last man to leave his footprint on the moon was Apollo 17 commander Eugene Cernan, on Dec. 14, 1972
Tony Long 07.20.07
Buzz Aldrin is photographed walking near the lunar module during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity on July 20, 1969.Photo: Associated Press
1969: The Soviet Union was first to land a spacecraft on the moon, in 1959, but NASA's Neil Armstrong becomes the first human to set foot on the lunar surface, realizing humanity's age-old dream. And effectively winning the space race for the United States.
Armstrong and fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin left the Apollo 11 command module (piloted by Michael Collins) in orbit and performed a landing in the lunar module Eagle. At 4:18 p.m. EDT, Armstrong announced to a watching and waiting world that "The Eagle has landed." Six-and-a-half hours later, he stepped onto the powdery surface with the words, "That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Aldrin soon followed Armstrong down the ladder to become the second man to stand on the moon.
The mission was by no means a slam dunk. There was real fear that once on the lunar surface the astronauts might end up marooned and beyond rescue. In fact, President Nixon had a condolence speech ready to go in the event things turned out badly. Things went as planned, however, and Armstrong and Aldrin returned to the command module after leaving behind a plaque inscribed with the words: "Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon, July 1969 AD. We came in peace for all mankind."
Five more Apollo missions carried astronauts to the moon before the program ended in 1972. (There were to have been six, but Apollo 13's mission ended in near disaster.) The last man to leave his footprint on the moon was Apollo 17 commander Eugene Cernan, on Dec. 14, 1972
Please tell me what you were doing Forty years ago today...I would love to hear what you were doing on this great day in History...
May you all have a great day...
Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria
36 comments:
Good Morning. 40 years ago today I was making final plans for our wedding. My mother and I were checking our list of things to do for the week. I remember the excitement of that time. TV coverage was so different than it is today with all the cable channels. 40 years has gone very quickly.
Have a wonderful day.
Charla
Thanks, Happy, for the reminder of that AWESOME day! I was at home and we OF COURSE were watching TV and anxiously awaiting the news. After we knew that men had actually walked on the moon, I went and looked out the bedroom window at the moon and was just filled with admiration and wonder at the whole event!!!
Hi Gloria,
I was 12 yrs. old on that day and I remember walking by my grandparents room and seeing my grandfather laying on his bed watching the news. I knew that it was something I should be watching but I didn't realize was an amazing thing was happening. I stopped at the doorway and watched as those first steps were taken. I will never forget it! Hugs, Loretta
i wish i could have been around for that. I was reading today that NASA lost the orginal footage from the moon walk. Maybe they thought it wasnt a big deal.lol. love u and i cant wait to see you grandma.
love,
Josh
I was 15 yrs old and I remember my boyfriend(now my husband) coming over and watching with us in my parents family room. We were just reminiscing about that the other day! Could 40 years have passed that quickly? Yes!
~Hugs, Patti
Hi Gloria,
what a neat post! Buzz Aldrin grew up about 25 miles from me in a little town called Sparta, Wi. They are having some big celebrations over there today! I was 12 and in the 7th grade, not really sure what I was doing, probably just being a 12 year old! Lol, hugs, Cindy
Gloria, This is a great post!! I just wished I could remember what I was doing that day...see, I was only 7 mos old lol ;) My guess would be, crawling, drooling, eating baby food, laying in my Momma's arms, sleeping(finally) I have been told I didn't sleep for the first 6 mos. of my life...I don't believe it though...lol ;)
Hope you have a wonderful week! Nancy
Thank you so much for that post! That was awesome. Forty years ago today I was likely toddling around my babysitter's house with no idea what was going on.
Have a great Monday!
Hey mom! Fourty years ago today .... Well....I wasn't thought of by my parents yet...they might have thought about Tootsie...hmmmmm.... I was not lucky enough to be able to have this day as a memory! :0) Hope you have a lovely day mom!:0) Talk to ya later!
I was a teenager and honestly, I don't think I cared that they landed on the moon. I am sure we heard about it in school...but it is not one of those stand out memories for me!
I was concerned if my hair looked good!
Good Morning Gloria... Great Salute to the Moon Walk today... We were at friends house watching every exciting moment on tv... Have a fun filled day
(((HUGS)))
Donna
I remember watching it on television. My little toddler was asleep and we woke her up to come watch it on televison. She was having a hard time staying awake. I had to keep saying look at the TV. At least she can say she saw it, even if she doesn't remember.
Gloria! Great post! I had a 1-year old, and we were living in Montana. The 5 years that we lived there, I was so homesick for Colorado. I remember watching the moon landing on TV and thinking they see the same moon from Colorado - maybe it is a small world after all. I'm rambling - does that make any sense? Have a glorious day. Sally
I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I was playing with my BARBIES. I remember this day and my daddy watching the coverage on the news tho... I was oblivious to it all I'm sad to say now...
Beautiful post.
Love, Rebecca
I was almost 4 years old, staying at a great aunt's house. I don't remember much about the event, I was too worried about getting into trouble because her house was like a museum. I was afraid to touch anything. I don't think she has changed a thing in many of the rooms since then!
Dawn
Gloria, I was at a good friend's house where we had been swimming with our boyfriends (whoever they were then, LOL!), and we had pizza and watched it with her parents!
XO,
Sheila :-)
Hey Gloria,
It's been a while. Well I was about about 2 months old, so I don't really remember.LOL
Hope all is well with you!
Lori
How time flies... I was a little girl... and I do not remember watching it on tv... we never watched much tv... funny I still don't.
Why, I was watching it on TV, of course!
I was pregnant with my fourth child. It was a heart warming and great day for the U.S.A. Thank you for the wonderful post.
Hi Gloria,
I was in Standard 2 and remember how excited I was to know that Man had actually got to the moon.
We never had TV so my family watched it at a neighbours house.
I remember looking up at the moon and thinking what a great and wonderful event had just taken place.
Great post thanks.
Hugs
Carolyn
40 years ago it was my 15th birthday. I was watching it in my future in-law's living room with my future husband.
My husband can't believe that I have no idea where I was or what I was doing. I'm sure they told us about it in school but I honestly don't remember. I would have been 9 years old. My husband would have been 6 years old but he vividly remembers watching it on TV with his family and was fascinated by it.
Hmmmm, let's see, 40 years ago, I graduated from College....Christine
Hey you!!! Well,forty years ago today I was eight...and thats all I can tell you for sure!!! Hope you having a great summer my friend,Chrissy
*Laffin so hard* I just love your posts Hon... Ok lets see, I was 12 and I was in front of the TV watching every second!
Have a great week!
~Really Rainey~
Hey Girl, I was glued to the TV watching Walter Cronkite. I had a special interest in this as I also was one of the thousands that worked on the Apollo program. And girl, I just read that we have the same birthday. Oh Glory Be, I'm so happy to share that day with someone like you.
Love Ya,
Chris
Update on Amy!
Debbie just called. Mercy Hospital is running late. They did come in this morning and tried several times unsuccessfully to draw blood. Extremely painful for Amy. Amy's blood pressure is very low this morning. They have told us they are going to draw blood when they get an IV started. I pray for that to happen as with her possibly to dehydrated I don't know if they can. Debbie held the phone up to Amy's ear and I was able to tell her that I loved her and so many of us are praying for her. I thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. I will continue to update each of you as I hear anything. Love, Sherry
Let's see, I can't quite remember what I was doing 40 years ago today. Although, that could be because I wasn't even born yet! Not until the very next summer!
Justine :o )
Mornin' Sis...
What a nice write up about the anniversary of the "Moon Walk"! Russell sat most of yesterday and watched all of NASA's space history on the History channel...hehe! Well Darlin'...40 yrs. ago I was only 12 yrs. old...sheeeshhh!!! That doesn't seem posible...where has the time gone? Hehe!
How are you doing today Sis? Got any plans? I'm just trying to get some house work done since Russell went back to work today...didn't get much of that done while he was home...hehe!
Have a terrific Tuesday Sweetie...talk with you later!
Love ya,
Chari
Update on Amy! The doctors came in, they talked to Amy and were finally able to get the IV started. Ladies we start praying, it will be 2 more hours now, Amy is back in the procedure room. The Dr.s like to use the artery on the right side of the groin, but Amy had cancer there at the age of 10 and there is scar tissue there, so it may not be possible on the right side and they may have to go to the left. Debbie said that Amy was hesterical this morning, but after talking to the Dr. she had calmed down. The Dr. said they will occlude the corotid artery for 30 minutes, if she shows no sign of a stroke then she will be scheduled for surgery, if at any time in those 30 minutes if she shows a sign of stroke, then the surgery will not be possible. We have jumped the first hurdle with prayer, we move on to the second. Thank you so much for loving our family, Sherry
Hi Gloria,
Can that really have happened 40 years ago? How is that possible, when we're all still so YOUNG??? ;)
I almost missed your post on the beautiful gold-rimmed china you bought for such a great price ... can't wait to see it in your next tablescape!!!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving the nice comments on my 'thrifty' post. Hope you have a wonderful week!
Bye for now,
Bill
Dear Sweet Blogger Sisters:
Update on Amy. She has PASSED the test. Yes, she has PASSED the test. The Dr. said her little vessels looked so good and she had such a wonderful blood flow. While the balloon was inflated she showed no signs at all of a stroke. They injected some die at the time the balloon was in there, and she is on her way for a scan of sorts to double check the brain and make sure there is no sign of a stroke. This is more or less a double check. She told Debbie, "No more tests Mom, no more tests." The Dr. said he saw no reason why she should not have the surgery, but would talk with them after this scan. Debbie did get to see Amy on her way to the next test, and she was teary eyed but glad it was over, and Praise God she PASSED. Keep up the prayers as they are so working. God Bless you, Love Sherry
How cool! Great post Gloria!
Let's see forty years ago I was almost four and we were living in Japan. My Dad was in the AF.
My birthday is August the 5th. Yours is the 30th? Hey almost the same day. You'll be on vacation then so I hope you have the best bithday ever my friend. I know you will have soooo much fun seeing everyone! I can't wait to see all the photos and hear all the fun details. ~ENJOY! I'll talk to you before you go I'm sure.
Have a wonderful day.
~Melissa :)
Hey Sis...
Just stopping by to say hello! I bet you're getting ready for your trip aren't you? Are you getting excited yet? Just coming by to see what you're up to and to tell you that I love you!!!
Thinking of you!!!
Chari
Gloria, I wanted to tell you that if for some reason I don't get back before your birthday, I hope you have a very happy one! Thanks for making mine brighter with your good wishes.
Love you...
XO,
Sheila :-)
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