SUMMER 2019 |INNOVATION& TECHTODAY 59
tech
zone NASAOn July 20, 1969, more than 150 million Americans, and a billion others around the globe, huddled around their TV sets to
watch two astronauts land, and walk, on the moon for the very first time. Eight years earlier, President John F. Kennedy
had made it the United States’ goal to travel to the moon and back by the end of the decade. Needless to say, Kennedy
would have been thrilled to watch Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin’s awe-inspiring mission
beyond the stratosphere.
Their journey was truly one to behold. After traversing 240,000 miles in 76 hours, Apollo 11 successfully brought
Armstrong, Collins, and Aldrin into lunar orbit. The mission’s key moment came when the Apollo lunar module, better
known as The Eagle, would descend upon the moon’s untouched surface, resulting in a truly unforgettable quote and an
iconic image that’s honored to this day.
It can be easy to forget just how pivotal that one small step has been, not just for the U.S., but the scientific community as
a whole. And, while the feeling of waking up on that one July day to see history occur live on television may be impossible
to recreate, celebrating the incredible achievement of NASA’s giant leap for mankind half a century ago is a fitting tribute.
Photos NASA