Space Rocket History Archive

Space Rocket History #223 – Apollo 11 – Moonwalk – Part 1

Silently and carefully, Armstrong raised his left boot over the lip of the footpad and lowered it to the dust. Immediately he tested his weight, bouncing in the gentle gravity, and when he felt firm ground, he was still, one foot on the last vestige of earthly things, the other on the moon. Then he spoke:

“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Homepage with pictures

Space Rocket History #222 – Apollo 11 – Post Landing & EVA Prep

Inside the Eagle Buzz and Neil knew every second was crucial. The T1 time was only 2 minutes so They hastily ran down through their checklists, preparing as though they were going to lift off within the two-minute window.

Homepage with pictures

Space Rocket History #221 – Apollo 11 – Lunar Landing – Part 3

“Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed.”

Homepage with pictures

Space Rocket History #220 – Apollo 11 – Lunar Landing – Part 2

Suddenly, Buzz and Neil heard the high-pitched sound of the Master Alarm. On the computer display the “PROG” light glowed amber. “Program alarm,” Armstrong radioed. Quickly, Aldrin queried the computer for the alarm code, and “1202” flashed on the display.

Homepage with pictures

Space Rocket History #219 – Apollo 11 – Lunar Landing – Part 1

The machine-like performance of flight crew and ground controllers continued. Each participant was in perfect harmony with the other, moving to a cadence dictated by the laws of physics and the clock.

Homepage with pictures.

Space Rocket History #218 – Apollo 11 – Lunar Orbit

As they passed behind the moon, they had just over 8 minutes to go before the burn. They were super-careful now, they checked and rechecked each step several times. It had to be perfect. Just one digit in the computer out of place could send them into a lunar mountain or turn them and send them into orbit around the sun.

Homepage with pictures

Space Rocket History #217 – Apollo 11 – Cislunar

What do we call this strange region between earth and moon? Cislunar space is the most common term, Is it day or night?  Humans generally define night as that time when our planet is between our eyes and the sun, so this must be considered constant daytime, But it looks like night out of Command Module’s windows.

Homepage with pictures.

Space Rocket History #216 – Apollo 11 – Transposition, Docking & Extraction

Collins’ first task was to separate the command and service modules from the Saturn and proceed away from it a safe distance; then turn around and face it.

Homepage with Pictures.

Space Rocket History #215 – Apollo 11 – Trans Lunar Injection

As Apollo 11 passed over Western Australia, at T+2 hours 26 minutes Houston relayed to Collins, Armstrong, and Aldrin – through Carnarvon – formal permission to go to the moon. “Apollo 11, this is Houston. You are go for TLI.” Mike Collins answered, “Apollo 11. Thank you.”

Homepage with Pics

Space Rocket History #214 – Apollo 11 – The Climb to Orbit

A Saturn V liftoff is spectacular, and the launch of Apollo 11 was no exception. But it didn’t give the audience any surprises. To the three Gemini-experienced pilots, who likened the sensation to the boost of a Titan II, it was a normal launch.

Homepage with Pics