Pre-flight

Pre-flight

 Burnt Apollo 11 module causing a setback, NASA, 1961 

 Mission Control, NASA, 1969 

"I think we're going to the moon because it's in the nature of the human being to face challenges. It's by the nature of his deep inner soul …” -Neil Armstrong 

 Neil Armstrong, NASA, 1969 

 Apollo Eagle Module diagram, NASA History Office, Year made unknown ,

 Apollo 11 equation, photographer unknown, date unknown 

 "We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win.”- Kennedy Rice stadium 1961 

Inventing new math for landing to be possible:

     At the time, the people of America desired to put a man on the moon. The only problem with this was that there was no math formula for the Eagle Module to land on the moon, much less have a person be able to walk on the moon. There were no computers in the 1960s, so NASA invented them. Although they aren’t nearly as smart as today’s computers, they did the job. Many technicians from NASA helped in the invention of computers that powered the spacecraft to the moon, such as Margaret Hamilton.​​​​​​​

Apollo 11 Training, SSPL, 1969

Inventing Apollo 11 math formula, J. R. Eyerman, 1961

Training and education:

       In order to first reach unity in conquering the moon, the crew had to obtain a bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics, followed by three years of professional experience (or 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time in a jet aircraft). Candidates also had to pass NASA's astronaut physical examination. Eventually they were ready to lead the space era with just a few steps. 

Apollo 11 going to launchpad, CNN, 1969

The moon, NASA/ GSFC/ ASU, date unknown


Uniting to conquer the moon:

      As Armstrong and Kennedy said, mankind deep down wanted that challenge to do the impossible and land a man on the moon. This challenge helped to bring together many brilliant minds across the U.S. to aid in the race to the moon. All of them contributed to the calculations for the landing of Apollo 11.

Margaret Hamilton with a stack of coding, NASA, 1969 

Launch

          The live launching event was watched by 600 million people. These people were all brought together by two things: the prospect of landing a man on the moon and to discover more about the wonders of our universe. 

Apollo 11 spectators, Bettmann, 1969

Apollo 11 launch, NASA ,1969