20 July 1969 is one of the greatest day not only in human history, but also of universe’s. For the first time, members of one planet reached to another. Centuries of dreams, decades of plans and years of efforts at last saw success. Almost a decade before the event, the then US President John F. Kennedy first indicated in the special joint session of Congress that the administration’s was working to make man landing on moon and return back to earth safely.
In October 1968, by codenamed Apollo 7 mission, NASA launched the first manned vehicle that orbited the earth and let the scientists get useful readings that would help them to conduct moon operation. In December 1968, three astronauts went to the dark side of the moon by Apollo 8. Then in March 1969, for the first time the lunar module was examined by Apollo 9. May same year. Three astronauts of Apollo 10 made a journey around the moon for a test drive for the main mission scheduled in July.
On 16 July 1969, Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins started their and also mankind’s dream journey towards mon by Apollo 11 from Kennedy Space Center at 9.31 morning. After a journey of 76 hours and 240,000 miles, the Apollo 11 entered in the lunar orbit on July 19. Next day, the module (named Eagle) carrying Armstrong and Aldrin was separated from the main portion, where Collins were in. At 4.17 evening, Eagle landed on the surface. Armstrong messaged to the Command Center in Houston, ‘The Eagle has landed.’
At 10.39 night time, Neil Armstrong got out from the module. Billions of people watched the thrilling moments through television via a camera attached to Eagle near the hatch. At 10.56, making one of the greatest moments of mankind, Armstrong’s feet touched the ground and said his ever famous quote, ‘that’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.’
19 minutes later, Edwin Aldrin also put his feet on moon. They took all the historic images we still feel thrilled to see. Both talked with President Richard Nixon. They collected samples of rock and soil of moon. They also planted the famous US flag and a metal plate, written on it, ‘Here men from the planet Earth first set foot on the moon. July 1969 AD. We came in peace for all mankind.’
By midnight, both Armstrong and Aldrin got back to Eagle and spent the night their, sleeping on the moon. In 21 July 1.54 evening, Eagle left the surface and at 5.35, successfully rejoined with Michael Collins in the main module. At 12.56 midnight 22 July, they started their journey back to home. Their space craft safely came down in the Pacific Ocean at 12.50 afternoon on 24 July.