The Eagle has landed. Apollo 11

That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. (Neal Armstrong July 20, 1969)

On July 16, 1969 at 9:32 a.m. a Saturn V rocket lit the sky as it sped a crew of three American astronauts on one of the most momentous endeavors that mankind has ever embarked upon and achieved. In four days time that rocket would arrive at the moon. Two men would climb into the Lunar Module (LM), named “Eagle”, and land on the moon.

As Neil Armstrong and Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin Jr. started their descent Michael Collins reported to Mission Control, “Everything is just going swimmingly beautiful!”

Just over 30 minutes after they left the Command/Service Module (CSM) Aldrin and Armstrong landed on the moon. Instantly Neil Armstrong radioed Mission Control saying, “The ‘Eagle’ has landed.”

The first task after they had landed on the moon was to prepare the LM for its return trip. After two hours and a meal Armstrong radioed Mission Control that they were ready for the EVA. (Extra Vehicular Activity) Mission Control radioed back giving them permission for the EVA, three hours ahead of schedule.

From interviews later Buzz Aldrin reported that he tried to figure out a way to be the first to exit the LM, but the LM was so small that they were unable to switch places even if Armstrong had allowed him to. So you may say by luck of the draw Armstrong was the first human to walk on the lunar surface.

Neil Armstrong went down the 10-foot ladder attached to the leg of the LM and reported. “The LM footpads are only depressed in the surface about one or two inches … the surface appears to be very, very finegrained, as you get close to it, it’s almost like a powder”

He then jumped the short distance from the last step of the LM ladder to the surface and became the first man to set foot on the moon, saying “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” Static caused the rest of the world not to hear the word “a” and it has forever since been quoted “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for man kind.”

After walking around for a short time Armstrong radioed that “The surface is fine and powdery, … I can pick it [the powder] up loosely with the tip of my toe. It does adhere in fine layers like powdered charcoal to the sole and sides on my boots I only go in a fraction of an inch. Maybe an eightth of an inch, but I can see the footprints of my boots and the treads in the fine sandy particles.” Armstrong later reported, “It’s like much of the high desert of the United States.”

Buzz Aldrin joined Armstrong on the surface 15 minutes later simply stating “Beautiful, beautiful” Armstrong responds “Ain't that somethin’. Magnificent site out here.” Aldrin in response, “Magnificent desolation.”

They spent some time gathering rock samples and commenting on the environment of the lunar surface. they placed a stainless steel plaque on the leg of the Lunar Module, focusing the camera on the plaque Armstrong read, “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot on the moon. July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.” Below the plaque is the name of the Apollo XI crew and President Nixon.

They went on to set up a small American flag with a spring wire to hold it out for the world to see. Shortly afterward they received a call from President Nixon telling them how historic and momentous this moment was and that America was proud of them and the world was praying for them. Armstrong and Aldrin responded to Nixon’s speech by thanking the president and saluting the camera and the world.

They collected rock samples and core samples, experimented with movement on the moon with its 1/6th gravity, and conducted several experiments.

Their EVA only lasted 2½ hours, when they entered the LM and were told by Mission Control to get some sleep.

Collins was aroused from sleep by Mission Control with the observation “Not since Adam has any human known such solitude as Mike Collins… when he is behind the Moon with no one to talk to…”

Mission control awakened Aldrin and Armstrong shortly after Collins. After answering various questions about the lunar surface, they left the surface of the moon, leaving behind the Lander portion of the LM, and several ongoing experiments and a camcorder.

The “Eagle” re-docked with “Columbia” (the CSM) its cargo and passengers were transferred over to “Columbia” and then jettisoned the landing craft.

Early the next day “Columbia “ started its two-day trip home. The crew came home to hero’s welcome and the pride of a nation.

With the return of Apollo XI the goal of sending a man to the moon and returning him safely was achieved. The Moon was no longer an unattainable dream it was a reality.