Apollo 11 - 40th Anniversary of Man on the Moon

Forty years ago, on July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 spacecraft was launched from Cape Kennedy; its mission - a manned lunar landing and safe return to earth. On July 20th, as millions of people watched television screens in wonder, Commander Neil Armstrong, became the first human to step on another planetary body. Lunar Module Pilot, Buzz Aldrin, followed minutes later and the two began to take photographs, collect lunar sample material and perform scientific experiments. Twenty one plus hours later they left the moon in the lunar module, rejoined the orbiting command module piloted by Michael Collins and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24th.

The U. S. moon landing was the realization of a goal articulated by President John F. Kennedy in a speech to Congress on May 25, 1961 - " 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." Achievement of this goal was a triumph not only of science and technology but a testament to the skill and courage of all those who made the mission possible.

The library is honoring the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 with a display featuring books, photographs, and the Tallahassee Democrat's "Moonday" edition of July 21, 1969 with the headline "Man Conquers Moon" as well as the NASA official Apollo 40 years patch.

More books and videos can be located in the online catalog under Project Apollo (U.S.)

NASA's Apollo web site is a must to explore; don't miss their Apollo 40th Anniversary pages with breathtaking images, videos and interactive features.


Apollo 11 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is another must stop with audio and video highlights and detailed mission facts including the inscription on the plaque affixed to the lunar landing vehicle:

HERE MEN FROM THE PLANET EARTH

FIRST SET FOOT UPON THE MOON

JULY 1969 A.D.

WE CAME IN PEACE FOR ALL MANKIND