Fifty years ago today, Apollo 11 commenced when the Saturn V rocket lifted off, bound for the moon with three astronauts aboard. Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and pilot Michael Collins became the first men to step foot on the moon, with pilot Michael Collins ensuring a safe return trip.
With the disaster that was Apollo 1, the bravery these three men showed was all the more astounding. After leaving orbit, Saturn V travelled three days before entering the lunar orbit. Armstrong and Aldrin took the landing module down to the surface and became the first humans to step foot on an otherworldly body.
”That’s one small step for [a] man; one giant leap for mankind”
The astronauts conducted several surveys and collected a multitude of moon rocks to take home with them. They found “magnificent desolation” as they viewed the landscape from Tranquillity Lake. The longest phone call in history was conducted between President Nixon and the men on the moon. They spent 22 hours on the moon before ascending and beginning their three day trip back, where they splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24th.
Regardless of who you are, where you come from, and how old you are, take a moment today to pay respect to these intrepid explorers who took the “giant leap” for all of us.
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@Notaleopard