Moon Landing (1960s)
The Moon landing of the 1960s represents a pivotal moment in human history, marked by the successful Apollo 11 mission on July 20, 1969. This achievement was the culmination of efforts initiated by visionaries like Jules Verne and H. G. Wells, whose writings inspired generations of scientists, including Robert Goddard and Wernher von Braun. President John F. Kennedy's commitment in 1961 to land a man on the Moon before the decade's end was not only a technological challenge but also a means to restore national pride during the Cold War, particularly in response to earlier Soviet achievements in space exploration.
On the day of the launch, nearly one million spectators gathered, with millions more watching via television. Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, and Michael Collins journeyed to the Moon, with Armstrong and Aldrin descending to its surface in the lunar module, Eagle. Armstrong's historic words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," resonated globally, as an estimated 600 million viewers witnessed the first human steps on the lunar surface. The mission concluded with the collection of lunar rocks and a brief exploration, highlighting the significance of this event as both an American accomplishment and a triumph for humanity as a whole. In the years following, U.S. space endeavors continued, paving the way for further advancements in space exploration.
Moon Landing (1960s)
Date: July 20, 1969
Humans visit the Moon and return safely. On July 20, 1969, Neil A. Armstrong became the first person on the Moon.
Origins and History
Books such as Jules Verne’s From the Earth to the Moon (1865) and H. G. Wells’s War of the Worlds (1898) made a profound impact upon generations of youthful stargazers such as physicist Robert Goddard and engineer Wernher von Braun. These scientists’ dreams became reality with the successful flights of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo.
On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy committed Americans to landing astronauts on the Moon before the end of the decade. Kennedy used the lunar goal to demonstrate to the world the technological growth and social vitality of the United States. He wanted to restore the nation’s pride and self-confidence, which had been badly shaken by Soviet space achievements. The Apollo flights did capture international public attention.
The Landing
Nearly one million onlookers came to view the launch. Millions more watched through television relayed by satellites at 9:32 a.m., July 16, 1969, when the 3,817-ton spacecraft, propelled by a gigantic Saturn 5 launch vehicle, slowly rose above the launch tower and lifted out over the Atlantic Ocean. Astronaut Michael Collins got a view of the fast-receding Earth brilliant white clouds, a faint trace of green jungles, a noticeable smear of rust from North African deserts, and blue sea slid by majestically and silently.
On the fourth day of flight, the astronauts Collins, Neil A. Armstrong, and Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin swung the spacecraft around to face the Moon. The Moon appeared three-dimensional with two distinct central regions: one nearly black and the other basked in the whitish light reflected from the surface of Earth.
The next day, July 20, the astronauts prepared for the lunar landing. All three suited up. As Armstrong and Aldrin took off in the lunar module Eagle, Collins stayed to monitor and fly the command module Columbia around the Moon. Collins said the lunar module was a weird contraption. Its four legs awkwardly jutted out above a body with neither symmetry nor grace; however, it performed admirably. Armstrong had to manually steer the craft away from many craters but selected a good area on the Sea of Tranquillity before running out of fuel. Armstrong announced, “Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed.”
At 10:56 p.m., July 20, 1969, via satellite television, Armstrong shared with the world the first human footstep on the Moon. His unforgettable words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” immortalized the moment.
An estimated 600 million people watched first Armstrong and then Aldrin on the lunar surface. Aldrin described the lunar landscape as “magnificent desolation.” The astronauts retrieved some fifty pounds of lunar rocks, ending the first walk on the Moon after only two hours and twenty-one minutes.
Impact
Collins suggests that the greatest benefit from the lunar landing was that human beings were drawn together for one fleeting moment: It was not Americans who accomplished this feat; it was humankind. Nevertheless, the United States had won the race to the Moon and had firmly established its dominance in science and technology. It was at once an accomplishment for humanity and an American triumph in the Cold War.
Subsequent Events
The United States successfully launched Skylab, the nation’s first space station, in 1973-1974. The 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Test Project marked the first U.S.-Soviet collaboration in space.
Additional Information
For further information on the lunar landing and U.S. space programs, see U.S. Space Gear (1994), by Lillian D. Kozloski; . . . The Heavens and the Earth (1987), by Walter A. McDougall; and Carrying the Fire (1974) and Liftoff (1988), by astronaut Collins.