Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Did you know?

Today, on July 20, it is exactly 41 years ago, since Neil Armstrong, Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins with Apollo 11, was the first humans ever to walk on the Moon. They landed in the area “Sea of Tranquillity”. Armstrong and Aldrin spent 21 hours and 31 minutes on the lunar surface while Collins orbited above in the command ship.

They returned to Earth with 47.5 pounds (21.55 kilograms) of lunar rocks and landed in the Pacific Ocean on July 24.

The lunar module was named Eagle for the national bird of the United States, the bald eagle, which is featured prominently on the mission insignia. The command module was named Columbia for the feminine personification of the United States used traditionally in song and poetry.

After the astronauts planted a U.S. flag on the lunar surface, they spoke with President Richard Nixon through a telephone-radio transmission which Nixon called "the most historic phone call ever made from the White House."

And of course this was when Armstrong uttered the famous words: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind".

launchsending live descendingarmstrong putting his first foot on the moon surface planting the flag   earth rise buzz aldrin headline july 21 far side of the moon back on earth quarantine moon landing parade in NYC

Hugs, Bettina.

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