Archive for the ‘Historical Notes’ Category

On July 20, 1969, 42 years ago today, three American astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission became the first human beings to set foot on the surface of the moon. This stunning achievement is worthy of remembrance every year, but particularly now, in light of the retirement of the space shuttle program as the United States looks to its future as the leader in outer space exploration.

Apollo 11 launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida July 16, 1969. On July 19 the spacecraft entered lunar orbit. On July 20 the lunar landing craft (call-sign Eagle) separated from its command module (call-sign Columbia). Onboard Eagle were astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin while astronaut Michael Collins stayed behind to pilot Columbia.

As Eagle approached the moon’s surface, Armstrong and Aldrin noticed they were off-track and likely to land miles away from their target. Armstrong assumed partial control of Eagle (along with its computers) and successfully landed in an area known as the Sea of Tranquility. The first words spoken by man back to earth from the surface of the moon are the now-familiar “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.”

Before exiting the Eagle to walk on the moon, Aldrin took private communion and broadcast “I’d like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way.”

At 9:56 PM CST, approximately 600 million people around the world watched live television as grainy black-and-white images showed Armstrong descend a ladder and set his foot on the surface of the moon. Armstrong immortalized the moment with these words: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

After close to three hours on the moon, Armstrong and Aldrin boarded Eagle (carrying about fifty pounds of sample moon rock and dust). After several hours rest and preparation, they blasted off to rejoin Collins and Columbia.

Among other items left behind was a plaque bearing this inscription:

Here Men From The Planet Earth First Set Foot Upon the Moon, July 1969 A.D. We Came in Peace For All Mankind.

Columbia entered earth’s atmosphere and splashed-down in the Pacific Ocean about 1,400 miles east of Wake Island where all three astronauts were quickly retrieved by a designated recovery ship, the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-12).

Rainbow International salutes the bravery, courage, teamwork and spirit of Apollo 11 and all those involved in this historic achievement. As Collins remarked from orbit the night before returning to earth:

“… All this is possible only through the blood, sweat, and tears of a number of a people. All you see is the three of us, but beneath the surface are thousands and thousands of others.”