“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. ” These are the exact words spoken by astronaut Neil Armstrong when he and his crew landed “The Eagle” on the moon’s surface. This “giant leap” led to many great expeditions that furthered the exploration of space. Because Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins were very brave traveling up to space, a whole new perspective of the world opened up for the people of America. The best cause of the first Moon walk would be NASA’s goals.
NASA’s goals were to first land astronauts on the Moon and and return them safely to Earth and then carry out scientific studies of the lunar environment (Green 9). NASA carefully planned this mission with the help of President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy presented a speech that told America about this mission that NASA wanted to complete (Thimmesh 10). Kennedy stated in May of 1961, “I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth. ” (Thimmesh 10).
NASA carefully chose three astronauts that would be perfect for the job. Neil Armstrong, Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin, and Michael Collins were the three astronauts chosen to aboard Apollo 11 (Green 10). Neil Armstrong was born in 1930 on August 5 in Wapakoneta, Ohio (Green 18). Armstrong earned his Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University and the Master of Science Degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Southern California (Green 18).
“Armstrong received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969, the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy in 1970, the Robert J. Collier Trophy in 1969, and also the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1978” (Green 18). From 1949 through 1952, Armstrong worked as a naval aviator flying seventy-eight combat missions during the Korean War (Green 18). He was a professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati from 1971 through 1979 (Green 18). Armstrong was the Mission Commander (CDR) of Apollo 11 (Green 9). Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin was born in 1930 on January 20 in Montclair, New Jersey (“Biographies of Apollo 11” 1).
Aldrin went to the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, joined the United States Air Force, and in 1951 he started pilot training (“Biographies of Apollo 11” 1). “Aldrin became an astronaut during the selection of the third group by NASA in October 1963 (“Biographies of Apollo 11” 1). ”Aldrin was also awarded his Ph. D. in astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (“Biographies of Apollo 11” 1). Buzz Aldrin was the Lunar Module Pilot (LMP) (Green 9). Michael Collins was born in 1930 on October 31 in Rome, Italy (Green 17).
Collins graduated from Saint Albans School in Washington D. C. in 1952 and also received his Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York (Green 17). Michael Collins is a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronauts (Green 17). “Collins also received the Presidential Medal for Freedom in 1969, received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, received his Air Force Command Pilot Astronaut Wings, and the Air Force Distinguished of Flying Cross (Green 17)”. Collins was the Commander Module Pilot (CMP) (Green 9).
Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins spent two thousand hours of their training in simulators (Green 19). The simulators would take the astronauts through normal missions and have them go through missions that have gone wrong (Green 19). The simulators took them through every situation they would encounter so they knew what to do when something needed to be done. The three astronauts practiced zero-gravity a couple of times by being strapped sideways in a special ring (Green 19). Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins learned Moon geology in the classroom (Green 19).
Then, they were placed in the desert to practice their survival skills (Green 19). Apollo 11 was finally launched on July 16, 1969 at 9:32 a. m. from the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A (“Apollo 11” 1). About ninety-three percent of the United State’s population was watching this event on live television (Granath 2). When the crew wanted to eat, they had to use a hot water gun to make chicken salad, applesauce, and freeze-dried shrimp cocktails (Green 25). They slept in sleeping bags and their “rooms” were the size of two telephone booths (Green 25).
Before they landed, the Eagle was running low on fuel (Green 13). If Armstrong could not land the Eagle in sixty seconds, Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins would be forced to abort the mission (Green 13). Armstrong said that landing was his biggest worry (“July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind” 2). They landed at a spot they called The Sea of Tranquility. Then Armstrong said, “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed. ” (Green 13). The Eagle landed on the moon on July 20, 1969 at 4:17 pm (Apollo 11 1). It has been eight years since a man has landed on the moon (Thimmesh 30).
NASA was finally eady to perform their number one goal, to get a man on the moon first and then return safely to earth (Apollo 11 (AS-506) 1). Once the Eagle was safely secured on the moon, Armstrong and Aldrin suited up in their spacesuits ready to go out and explore the moon (Green 14). Each astronaut has three suits made for him, two flight-ready and one for training (Thimmesh 36). Armstrong and Aldrin were finally ready to explore the moon. On July 21, 1969, at 10:56 p. m. Armstrong made history (Apollo 11 1). “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” (Thimmesh 33). These words were heard by millions of people (Green 14).
Collins said that it did not bother him that he missed the moonwalk (Green 22). Armstrong and Aldrin collected forty-eight pounds of moon rock that they would bring back for samples (Green 30). One of the rocks is said to be 3. 7 billion years old. (Apollo 11 1). Armstrong and Aldrin left an American Flag, a patch honoring the fallen Apollo 1 crew, and a plaque on one of the Eagle’s legs on the moon (“July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind” 2). After twenty-one hours and thirty-eight minutes on the moon’s surface, the three astronauts were finally ready to make their way back to Earth (Apollo 11 1).
Their trip back to earth lasted three days before crashing into the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969 (Green 35). The U. S. S. Hornet was the ship that retrieved the astronauts from the ocean (Apollo 11 1). After the astronauts got cleaned up, they were greeted by President Nixon as well by a parade of people cheering for them (Green 37). Their mission to space lasted one hundred and ninety-five hours and eighteen minutes (about eight days) (“Apollo 11” 1). There are many different effects that happened after Apollo 11. Since the success of Apollo 11, people now know more about the moon (Green 1).
We are aware of its craters, its grey color, and its dusty texture. A rise of literature began with children’s books, famous movies, and poems that people will remember forever. Apollo 11 made a path for future missions to explore the moon and its wonders (Green 41). NASA began landing Roving Vehicles on the moon when they launched later rockets (Green 30). Collins said that NASA is looking into a mission to Mars someday (“July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind” 2). Everything that people do today is inspired by Apollo 11 (Granath 3). The literature that came from Apollo 11 is amazing.
Everything from books, movies, poems, and more have came from this event. Many talented authors have written books that have been inspired by Apollo 11. One book by Sylvia Engdahl called The Apollo 11 Moon Landing tell readers about the history of NASA and what Apollo 11 is and what impact it had on the world (“Books” 1). Another book by Jen Green and Mark Bergin is called Race to the Moon: The Story of Apollo 11 (“Books” 1). It’s takes the reader through the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union and tells the reader how astronauts eat, sleep, and drink (“Books” 1).
The movies inspired by Apollo 11 are truly amazing. The movie Apollo 11: The Eagle Has Landed is a documentary directed by Robert Garofalo is about Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins and their expedition to the Moon (“Books” 1). It tells and shows the viewers about space and what it is like to travel through it and walk on the Moon (“Books” 1). Another movie called Apollo 11: A Night to Remember is another documentary directed by Paul Vanezis about the launch of Apollo 11 and the experience the three astronauts had in space (“Books” 1).
Many poems have also been written about Apollo 11. A specific poem written by Patrick J. Lewis called “First Men on the Moon” is about the first men on the moon, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin (“Poems and Poets” 1). Lewis is a talented poet that has written many other outstanding poems, but “First Men on the Moon” stood out the most. Another poem called “The Journey of Apollo 11” is about Apollo 11’s journey to the moon and back (“Poems” 1). It describes the main events of Apollo 11 as well as the events that took place after the event (“Poems” 1).
In conclusion, Apollo 11 is truly an amazing event that inspired millions of people across the world. If it was not for NASA and President Kennedy, Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins would not be true American heroes. “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” is a phrase that no one will ever forget and that inspires millions of people. Because Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins were very brave traveling up to space, a whole new perspective of the world opened up for the people of America.