Happy 48th anniversary, the Apollo 11 lunar landing

[mahatmakanejeeves]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11

Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that landed the first two humans on the Moon. Mission commander Neil Armstrong and pilot Buzz Aldrin, both American, landed the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969, at 20:18 UTC. Armstrong became the first to step onto the lunar surface six hours later on July 21 at 02:56:15 UTC; Aldrin joined him about 20 minutes later. They spent about two and a quarter hours together outside the spacecraft, and collected 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg) of lunar material to bring back to Earth. Michael Collins piloted the command module Columbia alone in lunar orbit while they were on the Moon's surface. Armstrong and Aldrin spent just under a day on the lunar surface before rendezvousing with Columbia in lunar orbit.

Also, on this day in 1944, German Army Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg came this close to killing Hitler.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20_July_plot

[ballardgirl]

1. I remember that day

as a teenager. We gathered at the house of two friends (twins) and their large Catholic family to watch on tv while their mom cooked dinner for our big gathering. I just saw my friends the other night after many years and reminisced about the moon landing and how we didn't really appreciate what a big deal it was back then.

Too bad Stauffenberg wasn't successful.

[SeattleVet]

2. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Actually, at my age, I probable remember it *better* than yesterday! (What was it that I did have for lunch?)

[sarge43]

3. I was in Trafalgar Square that night.

Last edited Thu Jul 20, 2017, 05:16 PM - Edit history (2)

Tens of thousands of people packed cheek to jowl, big tv screens set up around the square. As Eagle was making the final approach, we were silent as we listening to Armstrong and Aldrin; they sounded tense. Then, Armstrong's Midwest twang, "Houston. Tranquility Base Here. The Eagle has landed." There was a grasp. Then, flashed on the screens Man On The Moon. I'm sure they heard the roar over in Paris.

One of the best nights of my life and the memory can still make me tear up a bit.

[bobbieinok]

4. I remember

We watched and tape recorded the landing with our son, born June 10, 1969.

My mother, born in 1913, was a life-long passionate follower of the space program. She admired the discipline of the astronauts and decided the day of the landing to stop smoking (she had started in the 30s). And SHE DID. She stopped cold!!

[rurallib]

6. I was working at a gas station on I80

we had a small B&W Tv with rabbit ears augmented by aluminum foil so we could pull in a grainy pic.
And folks came in and watched and stayed for a long time totally forgetting what they were doing or even where they were.

Always thought it was some kind of cosmic joke that Nixon was president when the landing happened.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. I was at summer camp in Vermont on Lake Champlain

My friend and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, we were quickly summoned into the camp nurse's cabin to watch it on her small TV! We had to be among the very few at camp who were lucky enough to see it, nobody there had TV! I'm still very grateful that I was able to witness such an important moment in history - against all the odds!

[Homer Wells]

8. I was on duty

At the Commo Shack with the 244th SAC in Can Tho, RVN.
It was early, early in the morning, and a television set was set up
In the hangar next to the shack. I'll never forget it.