To many, it may seem as if it was just yesterday. But just a few days ago, the world celebrated man’s first foray to the moon. The pictures from the event are iconic, a testament to what technology and science can accomplish. And although Neil Armstrong — the first man to walk on the moon — passed away six years ago, two of the Apollo 11 astronauts are still alive to recount the tale. Michael Collins, who stayed on board Apollo 11 while Armstrong and Aldrin set foot on the moon, has often stated that he’s somewhat tired of detailing the time he spent alone, orbiting the moon while waiting to rendezvous with his fellow crew members. Meanwhile, Buzz Aldrin has embraced the role of public figure with more gusto.
Recently, Aldrin has been leading the charge to explore Mars. Chatting with celebrities like Elon Musk on a regular basis, it could be said that Aldrin has essentially become the face of the space program. Although it has been five decades since the moon landing, no other figure has captured the public’s imagination the way Aldrin has. When he was alive, even Neil Armstrong was much less flamboyant about his participation. Appearing on “Dancing with the Stars” and other TV programs, Aldrin has always kept Apollo 11 front and center.
This week, all sorts of little-known facts popped up about the iconic event. For instance, many weren’t aware that a broken switch almost derailed the men’s plans to travel back safely to Earth. Luckily, Aldrin was able to use a pen to operate the ascent system, allowing the spacecraft to fly back to its mothership, delivering the astronauts back to the capable hands of Michael Collins.
A recent documentary about the mission won rave reviews at movie theatres, allowing audiences to relive the excitement and the drama of an unbelievably exciting day. At the time of the Apollo 11 launch, the astronauts’ vital signs were captured and announced. Incredibly, Buzz Aldrin’s heart rate sat at an impressive 88 beats per minute as he hurtled up into the sky to complete an impossibly dangerous mission.
