Man on the moon: ‘A magnificent desolation’
Remembering the moon landing on July 20, 1969.
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History was made when two American astronauts from the Apollo 11 moon-ship landed on the moon on July 20, 1969.
“It took them 109 hours, 8 minutes and 5 seconds to get there,’’ reported The Boston Globe.
The day of the landing, The Globe reported that the trip of the three astronauts — Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz’’ Aldrin, and Michael Collins — had thus far been “amazingly smooth.’’ The report included a detailed schedule of how Aldrin and Armstrong would make their way into the lunar module referred to as “Eagle’’ and the descent of the module to the moon’s surface.
The Globe reported the “‘matter-of-fact’ calm’’ of the three men on their mission “tended to conceal the tension’’ at the NASA command center in Houston.
The two men landed on the surface of the moon at 4:17:45 EDT on Sunday, July 20, 1969.
“It brought the dawn of a new era in the evolution of man,’’ wrote The Globe.
The paper printed the words Armstrong and Aldrin said as they prepared to disembark on the moon’s Sea of Tranquility.
“OK Houston, I’m on the porch.’’
“I’m at the foot of the ladder.’’
“The first human imprint on lunar soil’’ was created five hours after the landing by Armstrong.
Then came the famous proclamation from Armstrong: “That’s one small step for a man, but one giant leap for mankind.’’
The moment was watched and listened to in a relayed “play-by-play’’ by the entire world, reported The Globe. The astronauts described the newly witnessed sight of the moon for those watching from below.
“Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. A magnificent desolation.’’
“It has a stark beauty all of its own. It’s much like the desert of the United States. It’s different but it’s very pretty out here.’’
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