America Moonstruck: One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind….
On July 20, 1969, Armstrong and Aldrin undocked from Columbia in lunar orbit and then descended in the lunar module Eagle to the Sea of Tranquility. Armstrong was the first to step onto the lunar surface, proclaiming for the ages: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
It was humanity’s first footsteps on another world.
July 20, 2019 marks 50 years since Apollo 11 had made its historic landing on the moon.
Since then, Hollywood has taken creative liberties to celebrate the seminal event, which was part of the space race against the Soviet Union.
Lasy year, there was Damien Chazelle’s rather disappointing film, First Man starring Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy.
The most memorable space movie is still Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was released in 1968.
Then there’s Al Reinert’s For All Mankind.
Moon landing enthusiasts can celebrate Apollo 11’s landing by watching such Hollywood narratives.
TV networks, including National Geographic, Smithsonian and Discovery, are airing their own special coverage throughout the month.
On the eve of the 50th anniversary of Dr. Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin’s becoming the second man to walk on the moon as part of the Apollo 11 lunar mission, the 89-year-old discusses his vision for America’s next 50 years in space.
Aldrin is on an urgent mission, get man back to the moon, and fast, and he isn’t afraid to advocate for what he sees as America’s next big leap.
A moonstruck nation celebrated the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s “giant leap” by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin at parties, races, ball games and concerts Saturday, toasting with Tang and nibbling MoonPies
At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Aldrin showed Vice President Mike Pence the launch pad where he flew to the moon in 1969. At the same time halfway around the world, an American and two other astronauts blasted into space from Kazakhstan on a Russian rocket.
In Armstrong’s hometown of Wapakoneta, Ohio, nearly 2,000 runners competed in “Run to the Moon” races.
“Apollo 11 is the only event in the 20th century that stands a chance of being widely remembered in the 30th century,” the vice president said.
In a speech at Kennedy, Pence paid tribute to Armstrong, Aldrin and command module pilot Michael Collins–if they’re not heroes, “then there are no heroes”– as well as the 400,000 Americans who worked tirelessly to get them to the moon.
