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Danielle Pompa
Dr. W. Kesler Jackson
History 1700
July 11, 2014
Apollo 11 Mission
Apollo 11 was not only a mission to the moon but played a major role in the Cold War,
and in the modern technology that we enjoy today. This essay will go over the history to provide
a way to see how influential this mission was in the Cold War and advancing technology. Many
know the story of the Apollo 11 mission, but a lot dont understand all the events that led to and
caused this mission to happen. This mission was the first of the Apollo missions to land
successfully on the moon. As you will see this was not only an expedition to leave the planet,
Earth, but a victory in the Cold War battles.
Humans' interest in the heavens has been universal and enduring. Humans desire to
explore the unknown, and discover new worlds have been around for thousands of years. In
having this desire the human species has been able to push the boundaries of science and
technology to new limits ("Beyond Earth Expanding Human Presence into the Solar System").
The moon has always been of interest to humans. Many cultures view it as something to be
worshiped. The Greeks were the first to see the moon correctly, they hypothesized that it is a
large spherical rock. The idea of humans making the exploration to the moon has been known to
exist in ancient Indian myths, and is first found in written form in 120 AD. The desire to explore
the stars has been around since ancient times. The first proof of this is in rock carvings in Ireland,
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dated back to 3000 BC, these are thought to be the first depiction of the moon. It has also been
found in ancient drawings by the Egyptians where a man is shown to be walking on the moon.
These ancient ideas of exploring the starts would remain fantasies and would never become a
reality until much later. Turning this into a reality begins in the efforts of the Chinese. Records
have been shown that the Chinese invented the rocket, making them the first people to do so, this
dated all the way back to the 1200s. The German military brought the technology to the next
level in the heat of World War II. Russia also played a major role in the work of the rocketry.
Kitty Hawk, a Russian, wrote The Exploration of Cosmic Space by Means of Reaction Devices,
in this he began the basic theories of rocket science. In America, Robert Goddard made the first
liquid-fueled rocket which was launched in 1926. During the course of World War II, Germans
rocket scientists were building a series of increasingly larger rockets. These two sides increasing
technology further and further sparked a competition within the allied forces in World War II.
In the competition that came with these allied forces, the space race came to a start. This
happened in the early 1960s. The space race was named as an analogy of the nuclear arms race
between the US and the Soviet Union. The unofficial horn that brought the race between the US
and the USSR to a start rang after the USSR launched Sputnik Satellite the first man-made object
to orbit the Earth on October 4, 1957. The space race was more than a competition to get to the
moon, but an indirect competition to win a battle in the tensions of the Cold War. On November
3, 1957 the USSR launches a dog into space. The dog named Laika dies a few hours after takeoff
from overheating and panic. These events gave the USSR the lead in the race. The US finally
gets caught up in the race with the launching of the explorer satellite on January 1, 1958. Also,
on October 1, 1958 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was formed,
which replaced the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA). (The Telegraph
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2014). The US suffers another defeat on April 12, 1961 when the USSR launches Vostok 1 and
Yuri Gagarin into space, marking the first human to ever visit space, also the first human to die
in space. The US caught up, yet again, when they launched Alan Shepard into space. The US
was still one step behind the Soviet Union when President Kennedy steps in to help the
Americans with a challenge.
First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this
decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth. No single
space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind or more important in the long-
range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish (Paul
2014). These words of Kennedy captured Americans imagination which, in effect, led to
extraordinary support. And support they would need, none of these imaginative people would
expect the challenges that would wait ahead. As Launius (2004) puts it, A unique confluence of
political necessity, personal commitment and activism, scientific and technological ability,
economic prosperity, and public mood made possible the 1961 decision to carry out an
aggressive lunar landing program. Kennedy, however, did not get to see the moon landing due
to his assassination in 1963.
The American rocket scientists were not prepared for such a thing as launching an
astronaut to the moon; this however did not stop them from trying. James E. Webb guided these
missions throughout the 1960s. However, his reputation was hurt after an Apollo accident that
killed three astronauts. The first Apollo mission proved the hard task ahead, a fire in the
command module took the lives of several people. The second Apollo mission which was Apollo
4, launched on November 9, 1967. This launch tested most of the components which were going
to be used in a standard launch. It was the first launch of the Saturn V rocket. Everything went as
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planned and was a success. NASA still needed to be stepping up their pace if they planned to
make it to the moon and back by the end of the century. The next launch was of Apollo 5 this
mission was to test the Lunar Module, which is the part of the space craft that will detach from
the Command Module and land a man on the moon. Getting closer to the task ahead, but still in
the process of making sure all will go well. The Launch of Apollo 6 occurred on April 4, 1968.
This mission had several engine failures. This, however, was not going to slow them down. The
Apollo 7 mission was the first manned flight of NASA. This was launched on October 11, 1968.
It had a crew of three. This launches goal was to test how space-worthy the spacecraft was. This
launch was planned to put the rocket into orbit of the Earth for 11 days. The crew completed 163
orbits around the earth. The first televised broadcast from an American space craft took place
during this mission. This was overall a successful mission, with that in mind, the crew was not
chosen for any future missions. It has been said that it may be because of the crews attitudes.
The crew did have to put up with bad food, they had all gotten a cold, and they even began
talking back to mission control on Earth. After these missions none seemed more promising than
the Apollo 8 mission.
The public became very involved during the Apollo 8 mission when the rocket made one
and a half Earth orbits. The mission did not have a Lunar Module ready but decided that they
still wanted to make the trip around the moon because there were rumors that the Soviet Union
was getting ready to do the same. This mission was the first time any human being had ever
orbited the moon. For a short period of time, contact with the Earth was lost while the spacecraft
made its way around the far side of the moon. The crew then made a televised broadcast on
Christmas Eve
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This broadcast helped mankind to see the world from a fresh point of view with the
pictures it sent home. When the Apollo 8 mission showed the world a picture of Earth, this being
first time humanity had ever seen its home from afar. It was a tiny, lovely, and fragile blue
marble hanging in the blackness of space. They sent these pictures with the words of the Bible,
And God created the heavens and the Earth and the Earth was without form and void. Writer
Archibald MacLeish spoke the words with the picture before sending it out to all of humanity:
To see the Earth as it truly is, small and blue and beautiful in that eternal silence where it floats,
is to see ourselves as riders on the Earth together, brothers on that bright loveliness in the eternal
cold-brothers who know now that they are truly brothers. Society as a whole marveled at these
words, and in that moment humanity was united with the desire to protect the planet Earth
(Launius 2004).

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This was such an accomplishment in a time of crisis. The American society was dealing
with problems over Vietnam, race relations, urban problems and many other difficulties. The
nation being united as one during this event helped these tensions. Only a few more missions
were needed for NASA to know that the time for lunar landing was finally here. This was the
marker for the US stepping ahead of the Russians in the race. NASAs final rehearsals occurred in
the Apollo 9 and Apollo 10 missions. Apollo 9 was another manned mission; this mission
remained in Earths orbit. This mission was launched on March 3, 1969 and was crewed by
James McDivitt, David Scott and Russell Schweickart. The goal of this mission was to test the
Lunar Module in space. This was the first mission where the crew was able to name the
components of the spacecraft. They named the Lunar Module Spider and also named the
Command Module Gumdrop. This 10 day mission ended on March 13, 1969. NASAs Apollo 10
mission was the final testing mission, it took flight in their lunar model, Snoopy, and they also
named the Command Module Charlie Brown. They left Earth on May 18, 1969. In this mission
they were in actual lunar orbit within that altitude of 8.4 nautical miles of the moons surface.
This mission was crewed by Thomas Stafford, John W Yong, and Eugene Cernan. The US
accomplishments were leaving the Russians in the dust.
Finally, on the morning of July 16, 1969 the Apollo 11 mission takes flight on the three
day trip to the Moon. With the passengers of Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins
all sitting in the rocket named, Columbia. The takeoff took place in Cape Kennedy, Florida. A
New York Times newspaper writes about this event, Thousands of out-of-state tourists had
flocked to Florida to see the events. Thousands stood miles away along the hard sand beaches
awaiting the lift off. One 21 year old remarked, It looks like one big white candle, its beautiful
(Weinraub 22). One million people are the turn out for the event, gathered from all over the state
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to see the Saturn 5 booster rocket blast off. During the nine seconds before lift-off the rocket
engines ignite, which send flames over the 20 acres surrounding the takeoff station. A Los
Angles newspaper from the time describes this event perfectly: With a wish for good luck and
Godspeed. They say goodbye to the planet Earth and climbed straight through the searing
morning sunlight (Jack, Chriss 1969). All of the state was not the only ones watching, the Vice-
President Spiro Agnew spoke the words of this monumental moment, new era of civilization.
With the lift-off of Apollo 11, America enters a new age of discovery, (1969: Apollo 11 takes
off for the Moon 2014) and he was right.
Many would be surprised that a large group of people were not happy about this mission.
Written in a Washington Post newspaper it speaks about the protests of this mission. Many poor
people gathered at the church of on Magnolia Street. The paper rights, The poor people
gathered, the black faces glistened with anger as the orator hammered at the arithmetic of
America and its space program. These people were upset about the multi-billion dollar space
mission. These poor individuals thought it to be the governments responsibility to take care of
their home before they explored space. Many were hungry and in terrible living conditions and
thought that the money could be better spent on their nation (Greider A1). This, however, did not
cause any interference with the mission.
On July 19 the Columbia flew behind the moon and entered into lunar orbit. After
missing the planned landing place the crew members had to find a place to land before they were
forced to abort mission due to low fuel. Just as Houston informed them that they had 80 seconds
of fuel remaining before they must abort, Neil Armstrong made for landing. The rocket landed
on the moon with only 25 seconds of fuel left, Armstrong speaks the first words of a human from
the moon, Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed (Ford 2014).
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As the crew was preparing for the first lunar vehicular activity Buzz Aldrin sent these
words: This is the LM pilot. I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in,
whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the
past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way. It was found out years later that Aldrin
privately took sacrament of communion. As Michael Collins orbits overhead in the Apollo
Command Module the other two finally deem it time to take a walk on the moon, after squeezing
through the hatch door Neil Armstrong speaks the words, Thats one small step for man, one
giant leap for mankind (Apollo 11 Landing on the Moon, 1969 2014). Unlike other big events
within history the new technology to use satellite gave the ability for 600 million (1 out of 5 on
the planet) people around the world to hold on to every last word of Armstrong. This was the
first global mass media event. Soon after Armstrong, Aldrin followed, the two men went around
the landing site and planted the American flag. After they performed set out experiments it was
time to go home. And there lies the end, it was back to Earth (Ford 2014).
On the takeoff home the force from the rocket knocked down the American flag which
was placed on the lunar surface, to be later replaced by the Apollo missions after. Before takeoff
home Michal Collins reflects in his words, ...The Saturn V rocket which put us in orbit is an
incredibly complicated piece of machinery, every piece of which worked flawlessly... We have
always had confidence that this equipment will work properly. All this is possible only through
the blood, sweat, and tears of a number of a people... All you see is the three of us, but beneath
the surface are thousands and thousands of others, and to all of those, I would like to say, 'thank
you very much. Soon after Buzz Aldrin speaks from the book of Psalms, ...This has been far
more than three men on a mission to the Moon; more, still, than the efforts of a government and
industry team; more, even, than the efforts of one nation. We feel that this stands as a symbol of
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the insatiable curiosity of all mankind to explore the unknown... Personally, in reflecting on the
events of the past several days, a verse from Psalms comes to mind. 'When I consider the
heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the Moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is
man that Thou art mindful of him? This was then closed by Neil Armstrong, The responsibility
for this flight lies first with history and with the giants of science who have preceded this effort;
next with the American people, who have, through their will, indicated their desire; next with
four administrations and their Congresses, for implementing that will; and then, with the agency
and industry teams that built our spacecraft, the Saturn, the Columbia, the Eagle, and the little
EMU, the spacesuit and backpack that was our small spacecraft out on the lunar surface. We
would like to give special thanks to all those Americans who built the spacecraft; who did the
construction, design, the tests, and put their hearts and all their abilities into those craft. To those
people tonight, we give a special thank you, and to all the other people that are listening and
watching tonight, God bless you. Good night from Apollo 11 (Ford 2014).
On July 24, 1969 the crew splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean, with the crew
safe and sound (Redd 2012). In this they fulfilled the goal that President Kennedy had laid for his
nation. This showed in the words that were flashed in Mission Control in Huston, announcing the
Apollo commitment on its big screen were the words: TASK ACCOMPLISHED, July 1969.
As Sharp (2014) puts it, Americans breathed a sigh of relief that they had finally won a battle
in the war that was known as the Space Race. The Apollo 11 mission was not the achievement
of three men but an achievement of a nation, and better yet mankind.
These events left a wave of a reaction throughout the globe. There were parades,
speeches, public relations events, and even a world tour for the astronauts. This was not the end
of moon landings. Five more landings were followed after this through the years till 1972. The
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landings increased the time spent on the moon, the experiments, and samples taken from the
moon. This mission showed both technological and economic virtuosity of the US and it also
showed the nations preeminence over rival nations. This was the vision of Kennedy as he gave
his speech challenging America. In terms of numbers of dollars or men, NASA was not the
nations largest undertaking, but when it came to complexity, rate of growth, and technological
sophistication it has been different than any other undertaking. This may be the most valuable
accomplishment of the human race (Launius 2004).
There is no way to overestimate that significance in human history and he is forever
linked to that, said Launius, a Smithsonian institution space curator, about Armstrong. This was
a monumental event in the history of all mankind. From it came the common saying: If we can
send a man to the moon, why cant we ? Armstrongs small steps told the world that if
humans can do this then we can do anything. The accomplishment of this took what was 20 years
earlier pure fantasy and turned it into reality. This was not merely a time for the American nation
but a time for the people of the Earth. This was shown in the plaque on the moon that was left
which said: Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon. July 1969 A.D. We
came in peace for all mankind. This was also present around the world in a Swahili-language
newspaper Nguromo of Dar which had the title: The success for America [is a] success for
every living man. John Gleen, the first American to orbit the Earth said this flawlessly, the first
time any human being set foot on a place other than Earth, and thats a pretty big step
(Borenstein 2012).
This mission was not the end of the missions. Four months after the Apollo 11 mission it
was back to the moon for NASA, and the Apollo 12 mission was launched. This mission was not
as promising and was aborted shortly after the launching because the Saturn V rocket was struck
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by lightning. The problem was solved and they were back on the journey to the moon. This
mission was to test precision landing. The mission was a success and got more samples to take
home. NASA continued to advance their technology and make everything efficient. There was
many more Apollo mission (all the way to 17). All these missions have continued to advance
technology, the space program, and many other areas.
This was the first step to great explorations and caught the imagination of everyone
involved this is exhibited in a Los Angeles Times newspaper from 1969 in which it writes,
Agnew noted that America should now plan to put a man on the planet mars by the end of the
century. This goal, however, was not completed. But, because of the Apollo 11 mission the
Mars trip is underway. They may have wanted this mission to be completed by the end of the
century but it would be completed within the following three decades after the century. The Mars
One mission is fast underway as one Mars One writer puts it, Settlement of Mars is the next
giant leap for humankind (Mission - Mars One). The Mars One mission is different than the
lunar landing mission in the sense that the people going there, are staying there. This expedition
is one of settlement. They hope to have a human colony on Mars by 2025. This mission requires
a certain type of person, one that can withstand the long and extraneous trip to Mars. There are
already 200,000 applicants for the one-way mission. The mission has to find a way for the
colony to survive in the harsh climate and oxygen-free environment (Atherton 2013).
This mission was done using computers with less power than we now have on our cell
phones. From this came much more advanced technology that has now led to our technology that
we carry in our pockets. The technological achievements have influenced robotics, computer
hardware and software, nanotechnology, aeronautics, transportation and even health care. As one
of NASAs editors Daniel Lockney says, There were remarkable discoveries in civil, electrical,
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aeronautical and engineering science, as well as rocketry and the development of core
technologies that really pushed technology into the industry it is today," he said. "It was perhaps
one of the greatest engineering and scientific feats of all time. It was huge. The engineering
required to leave Earth and move to another heavenly body required the development of new
technologies that before hadn't even been thought of. It has yet to be rivaled (Gaudin 2009).
This mission was very costly and very consuming, but every effort that was put into this mission
had an extremely large lasting effect in so many different areas. However, Technology has not
been the only achievement.
Many more achievements followed the missions landing. As White says it, "Neil
Armstrongs comments made me realize that humanitys forays into space are not just technical
achievements, but are perceptual/cognitive achievements as well. Space exploration has allowed
us as a species to see our home planet and ourselves in ways that were never before possible. The
perspective from space reveals a precious jewel of a planet floating in the void a place where
unique circumstances allow it to support life and evolve self-aware species (White 2012).This
mission changed the world forever, in the ways we view Earth and the Universe as well. In a way
it was as if all of us landed on the moon with the astronauts and looked back on the earth. From
this was made Earth Day, we all found the need to appreciate the Earth.
The Apollo 11 mission was the beginning of something amazing. The people who made
this happen showed that almost anything is possible. It may have served as a victory in the Cold
War battles but it was something that was much bigger than that. This mission brought together
the world and made us all fight for a common cause. It showed future generations that if we can
walk on the moon we can do anything. This led to the Mars mission that will soon take place.
This will also lead to many other explorations of space for human kind. This mission was much
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bigger than anything the world has done because it is much bigger than our world and our self.
This mission was the stepping stone to the exploration of the stars. This truly was a giant leap for
mankind.


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