Did We Mishear Neil Armstrong’s Famous First Words on the Moon?
On July 20, 1969, an estimated 650 million people watched in suspense as Neil Armstrong descended a ladder towards the surface of the Moon.
As he took his first steps, he uttered words that would be written into history books for generations to come: “That’s one small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.”
Or at least that’s how the media reported his words.
But Armstrong insisted that he actually said, “That’s one small step for a man.” In fact, in the official transcript of the Moon landing mission, NASA transcribes the quote as “that’s one small step for (a) man.”
Suprising they didn't quote it as he said it.
ReplyDeleteThe media rarely gets it right. I didn't know this.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. ♥
Iam not surprised
ReplyDeleteI have heard this before.
ReplyDeleteGot to admit I like the altered version. It is inclusive of all of us--not just "a"man. Wonder if that is what they were thinking when they changed it or if it was just a mistake.
ReplyDeleteNot surprised. Mind you, the change has more symbolic power.
ReplyDeleteInteresting.
ReplyDeleteI still think he played it all wrong and should have had some fun with it. Rather than say something that sounded pre-written and ready to go, it would have been fun to hear something more raw and in the moment. Or even something funny like, there's a big monster or an alien or something fun.
ReplyDeleteSomething like "Honey, I'm home.."?
DeleteHahahahahaha! I love that!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, like that.
DeleteSupposedly, a communication glitch dropped the "a," although some say he flubbed his well rehearsed line.
ReplyDeleteNASA probably thought that longer "quote" was better suited for the history books. I do wonder though how many times that has happened over the centuries and how much of history is actually true.
ReplyDeleteSince the real point of it is the second half, "One giant leap for mankind", the difference doesn't particularly matter to me.
ReplyDelete