Back to the video list: North American History

 

After a decade of national effort the United Stated brought the first man to the moon. The Apollo 11 mission marks a significant victory of the USA over the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

 

Video

 

 

Overview

  • Date: 20 July 1969 / 21 July 1969
  • Location: Moon
  • Event: First landing on the moon / first man on the moon

 

Apollo 11 Crew

  • Neil Armstrong (1930 – 2012)
  • Buzz Aldrin (1930 – )
  • Michael Collins (1930 – )

 

Background

  • 1944: Use of the 1st ballistic missiles by the Germans (V2)
  • From 1945: Sergei Korolev heads the Soviet missile programme which is based on German knowledge
  • From 1945: Wernher von Braun & his team advance ballistic missiles for the U.S.
  • 04 Oct 1957: Sputnik is the 1st satellite in orbit (Soviet Union)
  • 31 Jan 1958: Explorer 1 is the 1st U.S. satellite
  • 12 Apr 1961: Yuri Gagarin is the 1st man in orbit (Soviet Union)
  • 05 May 1961: Alan Shepard is the 1st U.S. astronaut in orbit
  • 25 May 1961: "I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth.“ (J.F. Kennedy)

 

History 1969

  • 16 Jul – 13:32: Apollo 11 is launched from Kennedy Space Center
  • 19 Jul – 17:21: Apollo 11 enters the lunar orbit
  • 20 Jul – 20:17: Landing craft Eagle arrives on the moon
  • 21 Jul – 02:56: Neil Armstrong steps onto the lunar surface
  • 21 Jul – 17:54: Eagle return to the command module
  • 24 Jul – 16:50: Command module Columbia lands in the Pacific

 

Consequences & Impact

  • 600m global viewers follow the moon landing via TV (50 % of all TV sets)
  • 13 Aug 1969: Parades in New York, Chicago & Los Angeles & international celebrations in LA
  • The landing on the moon causes global enthusiasm
  • 5 more lunar missions follow in the 20th century / In total 12 men walk on the moon:
    • Apollo 12 – 19 Nov 1969
    • Apollo 14 – 05 Feb 1971
    • Apollo 15 – 30 Jul 1971
    • Apollo 16 – 20 Apr 1972
    • Apollo 17 – 11 Dec 1972
  • The United States win the race to the moon & score a significant victory against the Soviet Union during the Cold War