NASA Takes a BreakAfter Kennedy's goal was set, the Moon-landing effort, named Project Apollo, kicked into high gear. However in January of 1967, just a few weeks before the first manned test flight, Apollo 1, was set to launch, three astronauts—Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee—were killed in a flash fire in the spacecraft. (3) News of the fire left many Americans questioning whether the race to space was worth the risk. (4) As well as increasing public doubt, the tragedy was a major setback to Project Apollo and it would be almost two years until a manned spacecraft was launched. However, once the program recovered, it did not suffer any more losses. Apollo 7 and 9 tested the spacecraft in Earth's orbit without any problems and Apollo 8 and 10 completed successful round trips to the Moon. In July of 1969, NASA was prepared to send Apollo 11 to land on the Moon. (5)
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One Small StepOn July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy in Florida carrying Commander Neil Armstrong, Lunar Module Pilot Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Command Module Pilot Michael Collins. Four days later, on the afternoon of July 20, 1969, astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin climbed into the Eagle, the lunar module which detached from the main command and service module, Columbia, where Collins stayed. The Eagle (pictured left) followed its calculated trajectory to the Moon's surface and landed in the Sea of Tranquility. (9)
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The Eagle Has Landed
At 4:18 p.m. EDT on July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong's voice came through the radio in NASA's Mission Control Center: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." (13) The room instantly erupted into celebration. The lunar module had landed with only 30 seconds of fuel remaining (14) because of last minute maneuvers to avoid landing in a crater. (15) With relief, the spacecraft communicator for the mission, referred to as the CapCom, Charlie Duke, responded to the crew:
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(16)
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Nationwide ResponseLess than a minute after the landing was celebrated in Houston, a roar of excitement spread across the country and the world as the news of the success traveled. In Yankee Stadium in New York City, the Yankees' game stopped mid-inning as the loudspeaker blasted: “A special announcement…you will be happy to know that Apollo 11 has landed safely on the Moon.” (18) The stadium erupted with applause and shouts of excitement. The cheering lasted about a minute and was then followed by a moment of silence for the safe return of the crew. Finally, "America the Beautiful" played, a song that was fitting of an occasion which meant so much for the American people. Across the country sports games paused to share a similar response and pay tribute to the brave astronauts. (19)
On July 20, 1969, an estimated 530 million people across the world turned to the television to watch Armstrong's televised image and hear his voice as he took his famous first step over 200,000 miles away. (20) |
One Giant Leap for MankindWhen Neil Armstrong uttered his famous words, he spoke of success for all of humankind, not just the American people. His "words were those of a human, not an American" and they contributed to the overall attitude that people had towards the Moon landing. (24) In addition, a metal plaque that was left on the Moon read: "Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon. We came in peace, for all mankind." (25) This message furthered the sentiment that the Apollo 11 mission was a success for all people.
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Soviet-American DétenteAlthough some experts argue that the space race didn't end until 1975 with the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project—when the American Apollo 18 docked with the Soviet Soyuz, marking the first international space rendezvous—after the Moon landing in 1969, the race was nearly complete. (26) By late 1969, America was ready to abandon the tensions with the Soviet Union and instead move towards a "new ideal of superpower coexistence." (27) So began the post-war period of détente which involved arms-limitation treaties, aimed at reducing the two countries nuclear arsenals, and peaceful meetings between Nixon and Soviet premier Leonid Brezhnev. (28)
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