The astronauts safely returned to earth on 24 July after more than eight days in space. Collins reported that the hatch on the tunnel leading to Eagle was closed and the crew were ready to jettison the lunar module. On July 20, 1969, President Richard Nixon, along with millions of others, watches as two American astronauts walk on the moon. Shortly before midnight on 21 July with cleaning completed all three astronauts were back inside the command module. President Nixon watches first lunar landing. As a further precaution oxygen was also pushed from Columbia to Eagle. Vacuum cleaning of the inside of the lunar module and the astronauts space suits was carried out as a precaution against lunar dust and particles being transferred to the command module. Just over three hours after the lunar module, Eagle, had blasted off from the moon the two spacecraft had docked and Collins said: “That was a funny one – I didn’t even feel a thud”. The main article on this page describes the complex docking manoeuvres required to allow astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to return to the command module piloted by Michael Collins. Guardian Tuesday 22 July – download of full page Adam Raphael also reported on the next phase of the mission.Ģ2 July 1969 Guardian front page Photograph: Margaret Holborn/The Guardian On The Guardian front page on Tuesday 22 July there is a picture with the caption: Neil Armstrong, making history as he climbs down the ladder of the lunar module and then sets foot on the moon. An appreciation of the work of the astronauts was expressed by the American President Richard Nixon : “Because of what you have done, the heavens have become part of man’s world”.Īfter the successful moon walk Apollo 11 and its crew prepared for the journey home. The articles cover the scientific work the men did during their moon walk and their calmness and professionalism. He recalled that at 3.56 am: “It was the fulfilment of a dream which men have shared since the beginning of time”.Īdam Raphael from the Space Centre in Houston quotes Neil Armstrong, the first man to step onto the moon: “This is one small step for man … but one giant leap for mankind”. Guardian Monday 21 July 1969 – download of full pageĪnthony Tucker, science correspondent, reported: “Men are on the moon”. The Guardian front page of Monday 21 July is dominated by two reports on the success of the Apollo 11 mission.Ģ1 July 1969 Guardian front page Photograph: Margaret Holborn/The Guardian The article is full of detail about the preparation for the anticipated moon walk and the planned television coverage of the event. The craft could have swung wide of the moon or gone into an unstable orbit but the crew described the action as: “like perfect”. “Eleven minutes later the spacecraft slid behind the moon and out of contact with control for the first time since leaving Earth’s orbit on Wednesday”. Details are given about the time at which mission control in Houston gave permission for the manoeuvre to take place: Michael Collins was to stay with the Command Module. The Observer front page article by Gerald Leach dated 19 July describes the spacecraft being launched into lunar orbit in preparation for a first attempt to put two men: Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon. Observer Sunday 20 July 1969 – Download the full front page I only go in a small fraction of an inch, maybe an eighth of an inch, but I can see the footprints of my boots and the treads in the fine, sandy particles.20 July 1969 Observer front page Photograph: Margaret Holborn/The Observer It does adhere in fine layers, like powdered charcoal, to the sole and sides of my boots. (Pause) Yes, the surface is fine and powdery. (Pause) That's one small step for (a) man one giant leap for mankind. The LM footpads are only depressed in the surface about 1 or 2 inches, although the surface appears to be very, very fine grained, as you get close to it. Apollo 11 achieved its primary mission to perform a manned lunar landing and return the mission safely to Earth - and paved the way for the Apollo lunar landing missions to follow.įor more info: Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11 CommanderĬut 1 (01:13) - I'm at the foot of the ladder. The astronauts also returned to Earth the first samples from another planetary body. The first steps by humans on another planetary body were taken by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on July 20, 1969. Apollo 11 was the first manned mission to land on the moon.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |