Apollo 11's Last Minutes: Alarms, Low Fuel, Then the Moon #Shorts
Pack: 08 - Apollo 11's Last Minutes Alarms, Low Fuel, Then the Moon
The first Moon landing came down to computer alarms, a crater flown past by hand and a low-fuel countdown.
- Apollo 11 launched at 9:32 am EDT on July 16, 1969, with Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin. Collins stayed in orbit aboard Columbia. (NASA, Smithsonian)
- During the descent, Eagle's guidance computer raised 1202 and 1201 program alarms, caused by data overflow. Mission Control answered: "We're Go." (Apollo Lunar Surface Journal)
- Armstrong flew past a crater by hand. Houston called "60 seconds" and then "30 seconds" on the low-fuel count, and Eagle touched down at 20:17 UTC on July 20: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." (Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, Smithsonian)
- At 02:56 UTC on July 21, Armstrong stepped onto the surface. NASA's journal transcribes his words as "That's one small step for (a) man; one giant leap for mankind." He said he meant "a man," though the "a" is hard to hear. (Apollo Lunar Surface Journal)
- Armstrong and Aldrin spent about two and a half hours outside, and the crew splashed down in the Pacific on July 24. (NASA, Smithsonian)
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Quick answers
What is “Apollo 11's Last Minutes: Alarms, Low Fuel, Then the Moon” about?
The first Moon landing came down to computer alarms, a crater flown past by hand and a low-fuel countdown.
What are the key facts?
Apollo 11 launched at 9:32 am EDT on July 16, 1969, with Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin. Collins stayed in orbit aboard Columbia. (NASA, Smithsonian) During the descent, Eagle's guidance computer raised 1202 and 1201 program alarms, caused by data overflow. Mission Control answered: "We're Go." (Apollo Lunar Surface Journal)
What sources is this Short based on?
It cites NASA, Apollo 11 Mission Overview; Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, The First Lunar Landing; Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, One Small Step; Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Apollo 11. Links are in the Sources list below.
Sources
- NASA, Apollo 11 Mission Overview
- Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, The First Lunar Landing
- Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, One Small Step
- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Apollo 11
Images
- Buzz Aldrin on the Moon (AS11-40-5903), Neil Armstrong / NASA, Public domain
- Apollo 11 launch (GPN-2000-000630), NASA, Public domain
- Mission Control, landing trajectory display, NASA, Public domain
- Buzz Aldrin and the Lunar Module Eagle (AS11-40-5927), Neil Armstrong / NASA, Public domain
- Aldrin's bootprint, Buzz Aldrin / NASA, Public domain
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