#TBT: One Giant Leap for Mankind

July 20, 2017

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2 min read

#TBT: One Giant Leap for Mankind

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On this day in 1969, we saw the first trace of humans on the moon — in the form of a footprint. Some 240,000 miles from Earth, with nearly 76 hours of travel time to the lunar orbit, astronaut Neil Armstrong planted his foot on a powdery gray surface and took a step forward.

376713 01: (FILE PHOTO) An Apollo 11 astronaut's footprint in the lunar soil, photographed by a 70 mm lunar surface camera during the Apollo 11 lunar surface extravehicular activity. Neil Armstrong steped into history July 20, 1969 by leaving the first human footprint on the surface of the moon. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers) — Image courtesy of NASA/Newsmakers.

With more than half a billion people watching Apollo 11 on television, Armstrong touched his foot on the moon and proclaimed, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." Nearly five decades later, Armstrong’s footprint still leaves a lasting impression and his words remain hopeful and courageous.

The day after the mission, The New York Times headline announced, “Men Walk On Moon,” referring to Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, who turned the unimaginable to a reality. Apollo 11 safely returned home on July 24, 1969, and 48 years later, we continue to celebrate the mission each Moon Day.

Featured image by Getty Images