Apollo 11
Published on Jul 13, 2007 at 11:43 pm.
5 Comments.
Filed under space exploration, wonders.
One of the greatest achievements in exploration, in my opinion, was the manned exploration of the Moon. So, for my next choice for one of the Seven Wonders of Space Exploration, I pick Apollo 11. This was a tough pick. The entire Apollo program could justifiably be selected. Kennedy Space Center, itself, if a major facility worthy of mention. Just the Vehicle Assembly Building itself is impressive. And, the Saturn V rockets are without parallel before or since (the Soviet answer to the Saturn V was the N-1 rocket, but it was not successful). But, in the end, I selected Apollo 11 to represent the entire Apollo program and everything associated with it. Apollo 11 is a good representation for the program, too, since it was the first Apollo mission to land on the Moon. Two other Apollo capsules had been to the Moon, but they either looped around or went into orbit. Those missions did not attempt to land on the Moon. Also other Apollo missions had been conducted in Earth orbit, preparing the way for the manned landing missions to come. Ultimately, six Apollo missions landed on the surface of the Moon, and twelve men walked there.
The massive Saturn V rocket blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center on July 16, 1969, hurling the capsule Columbia and the lunar landing craft Eagle to the Moon, entering orbit there on July 19. On board were Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin. The following day, Eagle descending to the lunar surface with Aldrin and Armstrong in a harrowing landing filled with problems. First, the astronauts had left both docking and landing radars on, and the on board computer was receiving too much data. It repeatedly gave memory full alarms before finally reaching a memory overrun condition. Nevertheless, Eagle continued its descent to the lunar surface. Shortly before landing, Armstrong took manual control of the landing when he observed that the preprogrammed computer landing was sending the craft towards a large crater, landing in which may have overturned the spacecraft, killing the astronauts. Then, beyond the crater was a boulder field. Landing in that also risked a crash and death, so he continued to pilot the spacecraft onward looking for a safe landing site. But, extending the landing was using precious fuel. Eagle finally landed at 20:17:40 UTC, with only seconds of fuel left. Then, a few hours later, people all over the world watched fuzzy TV pictures beamed back from the surface of the Moon as Neil Armstrong stepped off the ladder of the lunar module onto the lunar surface. Buzz Aldrin followed a short time later. The astronauts set up several scientific experiments, including reflectors that were used by astronomers at McDonald Observatory in Texas to more accurately determine the distance to the Moon. They also collected samples of rocks and soil totaling nearly 50 pounds of material to return to Earth for study.
Apollo 11 was the shortest of the Apollo landing missions, remaining on the lunar surface for less than 22 hours. The astronauts returned to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969. The entire mission lasted only 195 hours 18 minutes and 35 seconds. Upon return to Earth, the astronauts were kept in strict quarantine for three weeks until doctors had ascertained that they had not somehow picked up some sort of deadly pathogen on the lunar surface. The crew of Apollo 12 was similarly kept in quarantine after their mission, but later astronauts did not have to go through quarantine as scientists had determined that the lunar surface is absolutely sterile and devoid of life.
Later lunar landing missions accomplished more, but Apollo 11 was the first time that humans had ever set foot on another world besides Earth. That world may have been our Moon, and it may have been comparatively nearby, only about 400,000 kilometers distant, but it was still another world. The rocks brought back by the Apollo astronauts prove that there are significant differences in the Earth and the Moon (and also significant similarities).
The Apollo 11 mission patch showed an Eagle landing on the Moon, with the Earth in the background. Later, the reverse side of the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin showed this same scene, honoring this important step in human exploration.
(US Mint Image)
So, Apollo 11 is on my list of the Seven Wonders of Space Exploration, and it also symbolizes the entire Apollo space program. The Apollo program ranks as one of the major exploration events of all time. Sadly, though, no one has set foot on the lunar surface since the December 1972 Apollo 17 mission. It’s about time that we go back.
-Astroprof
Images courtesy of NASA and US Mint
Ed Davies on July 14, 2007 at 6:46 am: 1
Good choice, but two of your sentences, while strictly correct, might give the wrong impression.
Two other Apollo capsules had been to the Moon, but they either looped around or went into orbit.
Actually, both Apollo 8 and 10 went into orbit (as did the Apollo 11 “capsule”, of course). While that’s “looping around” it’s not what some people might read from that sentence.
Shortly before landing, Armstrong took manual control of the landing when he observed that the preprogrammed computer landing was sending the craft towards a large crater,…
While it’s true that a manual landing was made this sentence sort of implies that it was somehow an emergency and that the original plan was for a computer controlled landing. I’m pretty sure that a manual landing was intended and used on all of the Apollo missions. What was surprising about Apollo 11 was the length of time it took for Armstrong to find a place to land.
Graham on July 14, 2007 at 7:05 pm: 2
I have a poor memory but I know exactly when and where I was for the following:
Apollo moon landing - Bailey’s Hotel, London
Kennedy Assassination- friend’s house in Derbyshire UK
First Beatles’ TV appearance - ditto
7/11 - King’s Arms Hotel, Calne, UK
Me on the BBC 9 o’clock News - The Ropley Arms, UK
Madonna Topless - Hotel, Paris, France.
The most memorable was the Moon Landing. I worked for IBM and it was a significant contributor to the programme and I felt a good deal of pride in my company
Astroprof’s Page » Seven Wonders? on July 19, 2007 at 4:40 pm: 3
[…] 4) Apollo 11: The first manned landing on another world (the Moon). […]
Astroprof’s Page » The Legacy of Sputnik on October 4, 2007 at 4:37 pm: 4
[…] The competition between the United States and the Soviet Union kept money and effort moving into the space programs of both nations. The United States landed men on the Moon. The Soviet Union launched the first space station program. Space technology and hardware was being developed at a prodigious rate. Both nations were building unmanned spacecraft and hurling them around the Solar System, and beyond. It seemed reasonable that the developments would continue. […]
Astroprof’s Page » 40 Years Ago on July 16, 2009 at 9:38 am: 5
[…] but it was not successful). I’ve already written about the Apollo 11 mission, so you can go look at that post for more […]