The 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing is approaching and to celebrate NASA is hosting a variety of events in several locations across the country, as well as broadcasting a series of special programs on the space agency's own TV channel.
Among these is an event taking place tomorrow which will commemorate the launch of the mission on July 16, 1969. On this day, half a century ago, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins took off aboard a Saturn V rocket from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Just four days later, the mission made history when Armstrong and Aldrin landed the Lunar Module Eagle on the surface of the moon and took the first human steps there, while Collins remained alone in orbit piloting the Command Module Columbia.
Tomorrow's event, entitled "Apollo 11 Launch Reflection at Pad 39A," will begin at 9:15 a.m. EDT and can be watched live on the space agency's website.
"Astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins will reunite at the historic launch pad where Apollo 11 began its mission 50 years ago for a question-and-answer session with Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana, beginning at 9:15 a.m. EDT," a description of the event on NASA's website reads.
"[This will be] followed by a visit to the Launch Control Center and Firing Room 1 to connect with Apollo-era launch controllers and those who will launch the Artemis missions that are part of America's Moon to Mars approach for human space exploration."
Also taking place tomorrow, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama—where the Saturn V was developed—will host a Guinness World Records attempt for most model rockets launched simultaneously from a single location. The rockets are scheduled to lift-off at 8:32 a.m. CDT to commemorate the time that the Apollo 11 mission took-off from Cape Canaveral, 50 years ago.
On July 20 itself, NASA TV will be celebrating by replaying the original broadcast of the lunar landings from 1969—which includes the touch down of the Lunar Module and Armstrong taking his first steps on the moon.
Among the other notable celebrations is "Apollo 50 on the National Mall"—a free, three-day festival in Washington, D.C. hosted by NASA and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum which will begin on July 18.
"The event will include exhibits, speakers, demonstrations and a host of fun activities for the entire family," according to the event description. "NASA researchers, scientists and engineers will showcase NASA's newest technologies and innovations that will take us forward to the Moon and on to Mars."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Aristos is a Newsweek science reporter with the London, U.K., bureau. He reports on science and health topics, including; animal, ... Read more
