After performing several unmanned launches to test the Apollo launch vehicle and spacecraft, on January 27, 1967, the Apollo 1 crew conducted a countdown rehearsal for the February 21 launch . But a short circuit causes a fire and Gus Grisson, Ed White and Roger Chaffee die .
On November 9, 1967 hope was reborn with the extraordinary Saturn V rocket.
Saturn V is 110 meters high and 2900 tons at take off.
The Saturn V can place a load of 118 tons in low orbit and carry 50 tons to the Moon.
The Apollo 4 mission will be the first automatic launch of the Saturn V rocket.
In October 1968, the Apollo 7 mission took the first three astronauts into Earth orbit for a 10 day mission. During this mission, the astronauts will make rehearsals for the lunar mission ( docking of ships, firing of the engine of the lunar module …) This mission will be broadcast on television and will be a great success.
Following this success and the advances of the Soviet Union, NASA decides that Apollo 8 mission will orbit the Moon. On December 21 Frank Borman, Bill Andrés and Jim Lovell leave the Earth and place themselves on December 24 in lunar orbit.
Live on television, the crew expresses its amazement at what it sees. The Apollo 8 mission is a tremendous success.
THE MAGIC OF JULY 16, 1969.
On July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission aims to put men on the Moon. Neil Armstrong , Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins are on board.
This mission is broadcast on television.
Armstrong and Aldrin will go to the Moon aboard the Eagle module while Collins will remain in orbit.
The lunar landing is difficult because obviously it has never been repeated in real conditions.
Seeing that the lunar landing will not be possible at the place initially planned, Armstrong takes the manual control of the module and puts it in safety. We will learn that there was only about thirty seconds of fuel left.
6 hours after the lunar landing, Armstrong is ready to go on the ground.
On Earth, millions of people follow the event on television.
Armstrong puts his foot on the lunar soil and pronounces this sentence that has become famous throughout the world: « it is a small step for man but a giant leap for mankind ».
Aldrin will join him and they will take many samples and will make many experiments. The two men describe what they see live . On Earth millions of people are amazed.
Armstrong placed a commemorative plaque on the Moon on which it is inscribed: « here men of the planet Earth set foot for the first time 1969. We have come in peace on behalf of all mankind ».
The two astronauts then took care to plant the American flag.
President Nixon will congratulate them live and less than 24 hours after their arrival, our two astronauts take off and find Collins.
Back on Earth and after having remained in quarantine, the 3 astronauts will make a world tour where they will be acclaimed.
