Happy Apollo Day!

50 years ago today something amazing happened as man first stepped onto the moon.

“One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind”

Apparently Armstrong did say “a” man.

@divegeester said
“One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind”

Apparently Armstrong did say “a” man.

Apparently NASA gave a job to Arthur Miller the author to develop a cool phrase 😉

* Disclaimer: the story was never corrobated and Miller himself never claimed copyright.

@ponderable said
Apparently NASA gave a job to Arthur Miller the author to develop a cool phrase 😉

* Disclaimer: the story was never corrobated and Miller himself never claimed copyright.

I have no doubt that phrase was washed through several cycles of creation, approval and compliance before being given to Armstrong to utter.

@divegeester said
I have no doubt that phrase was washed through several cycles of creation, approval and compliance before being given to Armstrong to utter.

According to Armstrong's brother, Neil showed him what he planned to say four months earlier, during a game of Risk between the two. It was written on a piece of paper. The idea and actual phrase (with the "a" added) was all Neil Armstrong's doing. NASA encouraged astronauts to show real emotions and say real thoughts in such situations. He was not fed what to say. This is all according to Neil himself (except the Risk game with his brother). Neil either forgot to say the "a" during the landing, or the audio didn't pick it up, depending on who you believe.

@divegeester said
“One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind”

Apparently Armstrong did say “a” man.

Apparently, Armstrong was also toying with the more jokey phrase:

"Ahhh it's biting my foot!" (Just to mess with the guys in Mission Control).

@ghost-of-a-duke said
Apparently, Armstrong was also toying with the more jokey phrase:

"Ahhh it's biting my foot!" (Just to mess with the guys in Mission Control).

That would’ve been funny
I would’ve gone with
“Theres a really strong smell of cheese Houston”
But then I do like 🧀

@kevcvs57 said
That would’ve been funny
I would’ve gone with
“Theres a really strong smell of cheese Houston”
But then I do like 🧀

I'm always a little sad when someone is funnier than me.

😞

@kevcvs57 said
That would’ve been funny
I would’ve gone with
“Theres a really strong smell of cheese Houston”
But then I do like 🧀

And perhaps the "lunatic" response could have been:

"Eagle, try venting the pelvic port."

@wolfe63 said
And perhaps the "lunatic" response could have been:

"Eagle, try venting the pelvic port."

So the question now, are we in the US going to win the SECOND space race to the moon, with China now in the game?
I had to admit I had a ball working on Apollo back in the day. Atomic clocks and transponders were my game back then.

@johnsim03 said
According to Armstrong's brother, Neil showed him what he planned to say four months earlier, during a game of Risk between the two. It was written on a piece of paper. The idea and actual phrase (with the "a" added) was all Neil Armstrong's doing. NASA encouraged astronauts to show real emotions and say real thoughts in such situations. He was not fed what to say. This is ...[text shortened]... got to say the "a" during the landing, or the audio didn't pick it up, depending on who you believe.

Brothers are wonderful things.

@sonhouse said
So the question now, are we in the US going to win the SECOND space race to the moon, with China now in the game?
I had to admit I had a ball working on Apollo back in the day. Atomic clocks and transponders were my game back then.

So you keep telling us. And yet you are the biggest technical clutz here.

Watched the first step on the TV this am. It all looks so primitive now compared to the recent high tech ISS footage. I find it amazing that they managed it? There was only about 19 seconds worth of fuel left when they did land!

@drewnogal said
There was only about 19 seconds worth of fuel left when they did land!

I remember reading an account of this as a child; it was enthralling to think of these men flying over the lunar surface looking for a clear spot to land and running out of fuel.

I had my Dad hang Apollo wallpaper in my bedroom after this.