On July 20, 1969, U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped from Lunar Module Eagle to the surface of the Moon. One hundred and twenty-five million Americans—63% percent of the population—were watching on live television as Armstrong and pilot Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the Moon.
Televisions showed Armstrong stepping out of the lunar module onto the Moon just before 11:00 p.m. Eastern time.
My siblings and I were among those watching. Our parents had taken us across the harbor to our aunt and uncle’s house, where there was a TV. I remember being groggy from being rousted out of bed and unimpressed by the fuzzy little black-and-white screen the adults were crowded around and kept trying to get us to look at. At six, I had no idea that it was an unusual thing for people to walk on the Moon and was much more impressed that my aunt had a big fishing net with colorful glass weights in it hanging as a decoration near her fieldstone fireplace.
My older sister says that unlike me, she was indeed impressed that night…but not with the Moon landing. Our older cousin Jeff was playing an album by The Doors, and she says she remembers being blown away both by their music, which she was hearing for the first time, and by the weighty realization that we had the coolest cousin in the world.
Clearly, it was a night to remember, even if we didn’t quite understand why. And at a time in which our elected leaders are deliberately breaking our government and institutions, it seems worthwhile to look back at a time when the U.S. government put its power behind enabling the American people to achieve something epic, leading a scientific triumph for people around the world.
So here, thanks to my wonderful team, is the story of Apollo 11. I hope you enjoy it.
And, if you are old enough to remember the Moon landing, I’d love to read your recollections in the comments. Let’s make a record of what that moment looked like.
"When the lunar module lands at 4:17 p.m EDT, only 30 seconds of fuel remain. Armstrong radios “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” "
I watched it (well, mostly listened) and knew it didn't happen at night.
Not sure where she was..
-greenman
Landing on the moon and leaving the module to walk didn't
I must've stayed up; I just didn't remember it. Definitely remember the landing, but you're right about one not immediately following the other.-greenman
In what time zone is the moon?
Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on July 22, 2025, 2:57 pm, in reply to "Thanks for the update." ADMIN
I remember the walk happening late morning, before noon in California.
That was a watershed event, like the JFK assassination.
As a kid, I charted my life based on celestial events. First was the moon landing. Next was Halley's Comet, which was a BAD. Then came the millenium. My next great adventure is death. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
I was really too young to pay attention to previous ones but I remember all the buzz around it because of replays of the others. I was in awe watching on our massive 19" color screen. It was B&W broadcast but a Scientist was collecting rock samples not only a military pilot. A scientist could be an astronaut! That's when I started noticing Star Trek reruns too.
Then I remember the evening news later talking about all the men who had died in Vietnam up to that day (I think it was Cronkite). The moon landing made me realize the scope of the world I lived on was definitely bigger than my neighborhood. I had a whole world of neighbors and possibly a universe full too.
ASIDE: Strangely I knew Jim Morrison had died by then but we still listened to his music. But thinking about it now it would have been some cool background music at the moment. Pink Floyd gave us Dark Side of the Moon the following year. live long and prosper as best you can Jacque
Great story! Do you remember the first moon landing?
I was sitting in front of a smelly old air conditioner in Pomona, California watching it on television along with aunt, uncles and cousins.
I still have our Gazette Telegraph newspaper with the bold, red letter title. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
on July 20, 2025, 1:42 pm
