NASA commemorates 50 years of man on the Moon

NASA and the entire world celebrate the first 50 years of man’s arrival on the Moon aboard the Apollo 11 space mission. The team was composed of mission commander Neil A. Armstrong; Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., pilot of the LEM and Michael Collins, pilot of the command module.

The competition between the United States and the Soviet Union – at the time – to determine who would conquer the lunar surface first had begun in 1958. The American country was the winner and settled a milestone in the history of mankind.

There were many failed attempts, economic losses and critics. However, on July 20, 1969 the astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission stepped on the moon surface for the first time. The event remains surrounded by controversy for the resources destined for such a challenge.

However, “when commander Neil Armstrong and Eagle capsule pilot -Buzz Aldrin- descended to the lunar surface (Michael Collins stayed in the main ship orbiting the satellite) it had been just eight years and two months since the president John F. Kennedy (1961-1963) announced to Congress his decision to go to the Moon.”

The US space agency captured images of the event that lasted approximately 12 minutes and was broadcast on television through the black and white cameras of the time.

M.Pino

Source: El Comercio