The first moon landing on July 20, 1969, was a monumental event in human history. But while the iconic images of Neil Armstrong’s “giant leap for mankind” are well-known, there are some fascinating details about the mission that still might surprise you. Let’s take a look.
The Astronauts Almost Didn’t Make It Back
What many people don’t realize is just how close the astronauts came to being stranded on the lunar surface. The Lunar Module had only about 20 seconds of fuel left when Neil Armstrong finally found a suitable landing spot and touched down. If the fuel had run out, the mission would have ended in disaster.
The American Flag Almost Didn’t Stand
One of the most iconic images from the moon landing is the American flag planted on the lunar surface. However, getting the flag to stand was much more challenging than anticipated. The moon’s surface was harder than expected, making it difficult to insert the flagpole. Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong struggled to get the flag upright, and even then, it leaned slightly.
Neil Armstrong’s Famous Quote Was Misunderstood
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” This iconic phrase is often quoted, but did you know that it was originally intended to include the word “a”? Armstrong claimed that he said, “That’s one small step for a man,” but the transmission quality was poor, and the “a” was either lost or went unheard by listeners on Earth. The intended meaning was to contrast the small step made by one individual with the significant achievement for all of humanity, but the quote has gone down in history with a slightly different interpretation.