We Went to the Moon Once

4:18 today, July 20th, 2013, will mark the 44th anniversary of Apollo 11’s moon landing.

Forty four years ago today I sat in front of a Black and White RCA television and watched the by no means certain conclusion of one of mankind’s greatest achievements.  Science Fiction had come true.  Man had left the earth in a spaceship and landed on another heavenly body.  If you weren’t there, you have no idea of what it was like to watch Walter Cronkite fumble for words, give up and join the rest of the world in weeping with joy.

The following photographic history of the mission, images taken by NASA photographers (there is an extensive collection here), may convey some of the feelings that I am at a loss to express.

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Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins in front of the launchpad
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Lunar EVA simulation
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Apollo 11 on the way to the pad
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Ready for launch
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Final countdown
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Astronaut’s pre-launch breakfast
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Suiting up
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A final good luck
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On the way to the capsule
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Ignition
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Liftoff
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On the way to orbit
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Mission Control during launch
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Werner reacts
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Earth rise
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The pale blue dot
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LM separation
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Preparing for the landing
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The Command Module in orbit
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The landing site
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Close to touch down
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Mission Control during the landing
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On the surface
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The LM on the Moon
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Aldrin joins Armstrong on the surface
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Mission Control during Lunar EVA
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Erecting the flag
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Iconic mission image
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Armstrong reflected in Aldrin’s visor
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The LEM on the surface
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Going home
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Splashdown
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Heading for quanrantine
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A visit from the wives
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Celebration in New York

 

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