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Footprints on the Moon ; Earth Watches Leaping Lunarnauts Unlock Secrets of Another World

Posted on: Thursday, 24 March 2005, 12:00 CST

Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin clambered safely back into their moonship early today after leaving man's first footprints on the surface of the moon.They sealed themselves into the upper stage of the spidery lunar module after a television spectacular which clearly showed the two spacemen loping light- footed across the clinging, powdery surface of the moon.The tiny lightweight television transmitter beamed back pictures flawlessly and with extreme clarity for the whole duration of the almost unbelievable show from the earth's airless satellite.It is estimated about 600 million people, or one-fifth of the world population, watched live television pictures of man's first steps on the moon.First wordsThe astronauts opened the hatch of their spacecraft 6 hours and 21 minutes after their landing craft, Eagle made a perfect touchdown on the Sea of Tranquillity. Seventeen minutes later, Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon - the climax of a giant Apollo moon landing operation that began 12 years ago.A television camera positioned at the bottom of the spacecraftÕs ladder recorded the scene as Armstrong's ghostly figure emerged from the spacecraft and was guided down by his companion inside.

Armstrong's first words as he gingerly placed his feet across the moon's surface were, "That's one small step for man,one giant leap for mankind"Armstrong was joined on the moon's surface by Aldrin 20 minutes later. The two Americans walked slowly and warily at first aware that one false move could bring instant death on the airless grey lunar desert. But as their confidence mounted,Armstrong (38) and Aldrin (39) - the only living souls in mankind's new won territory - jumped, bounced and kangaroo-hopped gaily in front of their landing craft, taking advantage of reduced gravity.Before millions of people on earth, Armstrong and Aldrin leaping exuberantly across the dusty, rocky surface of the moon, unlocked the secrets of another world.FlagThe two men performed all but one - and that minor - of the tasks assigned to them for their lunar walk, which included collecting soil and rock samples, placing a special laser beam reflector, planting the American flag and unveiling a plaque.The plaque said simply, "Here men from the planet earth first set foot upon the moon, July 1969 AD. We came in peace for all mankind". With no breeze to keep it flying, the flag had a stiffener along its top edge to keep it unfurled. Then, as the astronauts scoured the moon's surface, the secrets came tumbling out. Armstrong reported, "the surface is fine and powdery, it adheres like powdered charcoal to my boot É I go in only an eighth of an inch"And the two men certainly left their mark clearly - footprints about a half an inch to an inch deep in the slippery, powdery topsoil which they reported clung to their boots.The television cameras panned across the pimply rock strewn cratered surface. Armstrong said it reminded him of some desert territory in the United States but, "it has a beauty of its own... it's very pretty up here"Nixon talks to SpacemenThey interrupted the operation only once to receive a telephone call from President Nixon, which he said, "certainly has to be the most historic telephone call ever made". Neil Armstrong said, "It is a great honour and privilege for us to be here representing not only the United States but men of peaceable nations with an interest and a curiosity and vision for the future." Life supportThe Apollo flight surgeon Dr Charles Berry, reported that the heart rates of the two moonmen ranged from a low of 90 beats a minute to highs of 125 for Aldrin and 160 for Armstrong during peak periods.Armstrong's high came as he was loading boxes full of rock samples Ð about 20 pounds in all - aboard the lunar module.With life support packs strapped to their backs giving them about three hours of life on the moon, the astronauts went about their work with the calmness of a Sunday afternoon gardener on earth. They set up on the moon instruments that will continue to give scientists on earth information for some time to come. Nearly nine hours after landing, the astronauts were still busy filling containers with samples from manÕs new world. Then they returned to their space vehicle to rest before beginning the hazardous journey back to earth.

Moon Walk QuizTry to answer these questions about the first moon walk. The newspaper articles will help you. 1. Who was the first man to walk on the Moon? 2. What were the first words that he said when he stepped on the moon? Do you think this was appropriate? What would you have said?3. Why did the astronauts need to carry life support systems with them on the Moon?4. Why did the astronauts' heart rate rise when they were working on the Moon? 5. Why did the astronauts "kangaroo hop" on the Moon? 6. What is the surface of the Moon like? 7. The footprints of the Apollo astronauts last for millions of years on the Moon. Why is this so? 8. The astronauts set up a flag on the Moon. What is unusual about this flag? 9. Why do you think the astronauts collected soil and rock samples to bring back to earth?10. Imagine you are a news reporter at the press conference when the Apollo crew return to Earth. List 4 questions you would like to ask the astronauts. Imagine you are a news reporter today. List 4 questions you would like to ask the astronauts now.

Source: Belfast Telegraph

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