On July 20, 1969 at 20h17m GMT, the American Apollo 11 spacecraft landed on the lunar surface. For the first time a man made his dream come true and set foot on another heavenly body. It was the success of all mankind, prepared by many generations. But it was also the success of the United States, which managed to outstrip the USSR in the "lunar" race, marking the result of the "cold war" for the first time. 6 hours after landing (the term "lunar landing" does not exist to this day) astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin put on spacesuits with a knapsack system, opened the hatch and descended to the lunar surface.
Commander of the crew Neil Armstrong, stepping on the surface of the moon, said the words that have gone down in history, which, of course, were not impromptu: "This is a small step for man, but a huge leap for mankind!" This speech was agreed with all the American authorities, but after a short pause Armstrong suddenly said the second, unapproved phrase: "Good luck, Mr. Kinski." Over the years, Neil Armstrong was pushed to understand what these words mean and who Mr. Kinski was, but the first man on the moon kept a secret ...
All countries were broadcasting about the landing of a man on the moon. Except for the USSR and China. Only a Chinese can understand Chinese logic. As for the USSR, our country simply could not allow its citizens to be present at the triumph of the foe. The USSR did everything in order to overtake America with the landing on the moon. We were out of competition in automatic spacecraft - the first flyby of the Moon, the first photos, the first soft landing, the first lunar rovers. Three times our automatons managed to bring lunar soil to Earth - only 330 grams (6 American Apolloes delivered 380 kg of lunar soil). On July 21, 1969, another Soviet Luna-15 submachine gun landed on the moon again, but we must pay tribute to our delicacy, not on Armstrong's head. The USSR program for exploration of the moon with the help of machines was closed only in 1976.
But the ultimate goal is landing a person. However, the Soviet H1 lunar rocket, laid down by Korolev and intended to deliver the crew, failed to take off - four tests ended in accidents. Several crews prepared intensively for the lunar expedition, the best forces were thrown on it. The commander of the first crew was Alexei Leonov, the first person to go into space. The chief designer of the lunar spacecraft was Yuri Semyonov, now the general designer of NPO Energia im. Queen. As Academician Semyonov said, work on the lunar program captivated him so much that it was then that he gave up his dream of becoming an astronaut himself.
Three minutes after landing on the moon, the astronauts were in a state of full readiness for a reverse emergency launch. This would happen if the landing gear went deep into the ground or the surface slope at the landing site was more than 30º. Armstrong's pulse rate was 160 beats per minute at that moment, while Aldrin's was 156 beats per minute.
Half an hour after Armstrong, Aldrin came to the surface of the moon. A tripod with a TV camera was installed 15 meters from the ship, which was broadcasting to Earth. Astronauts took photographs, collected soil samples. Various methods of movement were tested in conditions of weak lunar gravity: Aldrin jumped, Armstrong belayed. US President Richard Nixon spoke with the astronauts for about two minutes. Scientific instruments were installed on the surface. The duration of their stay on the lunar surface was 2 hours; the astronauts did not move further from the spacecraft than 30 meters.
The US lunar program started, one might say, on April 12, 1961, when, under the influence of the USSR's successes in astronautics, President Kennedy decided to increase attention to the national education system, to science, and astronautics. Already on May 25, 1961, Kennedy, in a message to Congress and the American people, announced the nation's goal: the implementation of a manned expedition to the moon in the current decade. From 1969 to 1972, 7 crews started to the Moon, only one of them failed to land. Each time one astronaut remained in orbit, two landed on the moon, then returned to the main compartment. In the first expedition, Michael Collins was on duty in orbit.
Of course, the United States could not but give the lunar program a political color. But they did not do it as clumsy as in the USSR. On the landing stage, which remained on the Moon, were attached a map of the Earth and a plaque with the inscription: "Here people from planet Earth first set foot on the Moon. We came in peace from all mankind." These words were signed by three astronauts and the President of the United States. The medals of the dead American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts, including Gagarin, were delivered to the moon, as well as a capsule with messages from the heads of 74 states, among which the USSR was not.
A high price was paid for the US lunar program. One of the Apollo crew died during ground training. The Apollo 13 crew barely returned to Earth before reaching the Moon. NASA's financial expenditure on the Apollo program was $ 25 billion (equivalent to the current $ 120 billion), which turned out to be a heavy burden on the American budget. Only 30 years after the closure of the Apollo program did President Bush Jr. again talk about lunar expeditions.
Since Columbus, any great expedition has acquired many legends. The Apollo flights to the moon are no exception. The last of the legends: astronauts on the moon saw the skeletons of Soviet cosmonauts, which the USSR sent to the moon to service its many lunar rovers and instruments. But the USSR did not tell the world anything about these expeditions, because they were suicide astronauts. They were not destined to return to their Soviet homeland. In essence, it is pointless to refute the legend. But it is worth noting: there are no rotting bacteria on the moon, and an astronaut cannot turn into a skeleton.
June 2, 2015
The exploration of outer space in the middle of the last century was of paramount importance for the world powers, because it directly testified to their strength and power. The priority of space industry developments was not only not hidden from citizens, but, on the contrary, was emphasized in every possible way, instilling a sense of respect and pride in their country.
Despite the desire of many countries to take part in this difficult and interesting business, the main serious struggle unfolded between the two superpowers - the Soviet Union and the United States of America.
The first victories in the space race were for the USSR
The succession of Soviet cosmonautics' successes became an openly challenged US, forcing America to accelerate work in space exploration and find a way to outflank its main competitor - the USSR.
- the first artificial earth satellite - Soviet Sputnik-1 (October 4, 1957) of the USSR;
- the first space flights of animals - the dog-astronaut Laika, the first animal launched into Earth's orbit! (1954 - November 3, 1957) USSR;
- the first manned flight into space - Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (April 12, 1961).
And yet, the competition for space continued!
The first people on the moon
Today, almost everyone knows that America managed to seize the initiative in the space race by launching its astronauts on. The first manned spacecraft to successfully "land" back in 1969 was the American Apollo 11 spacecraft, with a crew of astronauts on board - these were Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin.
Many of you will remember the photo when Armstrong proudly planted the US flag on the lunar surface on July 20, 1969. The American government was triumphant that it had succeeded in overtaking the Soviet discoverers of space in the conquest of the moon. But history is full of guesses and assumptions, and some facts do not give rest to critics and learned minds to this day. To this day, the question is being discussed that the American ship, in all likelihood, reached the Moon, took it, but did the cosmonauts actually descend on its surface? There is a whole caste of skeptics and critics who do not believe in the landing of Americans on the moon, however, let's leave this skepticism on their conscience.
However, for the first time the Soviet spacecraft "Luna-2" reached the Moon on September 13, 1959, that is, the Soviet spacecraft were on the Moon 10 years earlier than the landing of American cosmonauts on the Earth satellite. And therefore, it is especially offensive that few people know about the role of Soviet designers, physicists, and cosmonauts in the exploration of the Moon.
But the work was done enormous, and the results were achieved much earlier than Armstrong's victorious march. The pennant of the USSR was delivered to the lunar surface a decade earlier than a human foot set foot on its surface. On September 13, 1959, the Luna-2 space station reached the planet after which it was named. The world's first spacecraft to reach the Moon (space station Luna-2) landed on the lunar surface in the Sea of \u200b\u200bRains near the craters Aristille, Archimedes and Autolycus.
A quite natural question arises: if the station "Luna-2" reached the Earth's satellite, then there should have been "Luna-1"? It was, but its launch, performed a little earlier, was not so successful and, having flown past the Moon ... But even with this outcome, very significant scientific results were obtained during the flight of the Luna-1 station:
- The first direct measurements of solar wind parameters were carried out using ion traps and particle counters.
- The outer radiation belt of the Earth was registered for the first time with the help of an onboard magnetometer.
- It was found that the moon has no significant magnetic field.
- AMS "Luna-1" became the first spacecraft in the world to reach the second space speed.
The participants in the launch were awarded the Lenin Prize, the people did not know their heroes by name, but the common cause - the honor of the country - was a priority.
USA land first humans on the moon
And what about the USA? The flight of Yuri Gagarin into space was a serious blow to America, and in order not to remain forever in the shadow of the Russians, a goal was set - and although the Americans lost the race to land the first spacecraft on the lunar surface, they had a chance to be the first to land on the Earth satellite. ! Work on the improvement of the spacecraft, spacesuits and the necessary equipment went by leaps and bounds, the American government attracted all the intellectual and technical potential of the country, and, without skimping, spent billions of dollars on development. All NASA resources were mobilized and thrown into the furnace of science for a great purpose.
The step of an American citizen to the moon is the only opportunity to get out of the shadows, to catch up with the Soviet Union in this race. It is possible that America would not have been able to realize its ambitious plans, but at that time in the USSR there was a change in the party leader, and the leading designers, Korolev and Chelomey, could not come to a common opinion. Korolyov, being an innovator by nature, was inclined to use the latest engine designs, while his colleague advocated the old but proven Proton. Thus, the initiative was lost and the first to officially set foot on the lunar surface were American astronauts.
Did the USSR surrender in the moon race?
Despite the fact that Soviet cosmonauts never managed to land on the moon in the 20th century, the USSR did not give up in the race to conquer the moon. So already in 1970, the automatic interplanetary station "Luna-17" carried on board the world's first, unparalleled, planetary rover, capable of fully operating in conditions of a different gravity of the moon. It was named "Lunokhod-1" and was intended to study the surface, properties and composition of soil, radioactive and X-ray radiation of the moon. Work on it was carried out at the Khimki Machine-Building Plant. S.A. Lavochkin, led by Babakin Nikolai Grigorievich. The sketch was completed in 1966, and all design documentation was completed by the end of the next year.
Lunokhod-1 was delivered to the surface of the Earth satellite in November 1970. The control center was located in Simferopol, in the Space Communications Center and included the control panel for the crew commander, the driver of the lunar rover, the antenna operator, the navigator, and the operational information processing room. The main problem was the signal time delay, which prevented full control. The lunar rover worked there for almost a year, until September 14, the very day the last successful communication session took place.
The Lunokhod has done a tremendous job of studying the planet entrusted to it, having worked much longer than the planned time. A huge number of photographs, lunar panoramas, were transferred to Earth. Years later, in 2012, the International Astronomical Union gave names to all twelve craters that met on the way of Lunokhod-1 - they received male names.
By the way, in 1993 "Lunokhod-1" was put up at the Sotheby's auction, the declared price was five thousand dollars. The auction ended on a much higher amount - sixty-eight and a half thousand American dollars, the son of one of the American astronauts became the buyer. It is characteristic that the precious lot rests on the territory of the Moon, in 2013 it was discovered in the images taken by the American orbiting probe.
Summing up, it can be noted that the first people to land on the moon (1969) were the Americans, here is a list of US astronauts who landed: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Pete Conrad, Alan Bean, Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, David Scott, James Irwin , John Young, Charles Duke, Eugene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt. Neil Armstrong lived a long life and died on August 25, 2012 at the age of 82, while retaining the title of the first person to set foot on the moon ...
But the first spaceships that conquered the moon (1959) were Soviet, here the primacy undoubtedly belongs to the Soviet Union and Russian designers and engineers.
The moon landing was carried out as part of the Apollo program, launched in 1961. It was initiated by John F. Kennedy, who set NASA the task of achieving such a flight to the Moon in 10 years, during which the crew would land on its surface and return safely to Earth.
In the course of the program, a series of three-seat manned Apollo was developed. The Apollo 11 spacecraft made its first flight to the Moon, as a result of which the tasks set in 1961 were completed.
The Apollo 11 crew included: Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, pilot of the main module, Edwin Aldrin, pilot of the lunar module. Armstrong and Aldrin were the first to visit the lunar surface, Collins at that time remained in the main module in the orbit of the Moon. The crew consisted of experienced test pilots, in addition, all of them had already visited.
To prevent any of the crew members from catching a cold, they were forbidden to communicate with other people a few days before the launch, because of this, the astronauts did not get to the banquet hosted in their honor by the US President.
Flight
Apollo 11 launched on July 16, 1969. Its launch and flight was broadcast live to the whole world. Having entered the near-earth orbit, the spacecraft made several orbits, then the third stage was switched on, Apollo 11 picked up the second cosmic speed and switched to a trajectory leading to the moon. On the first day of the flight, the astronauts transmitted a 16-minute live video feed from the cockpit to Earth.
The second day of the flight passed without incident, with one course correction and another live video feed.
On the third day, Armstrong and Aldrin checked all systems of the lunar module. By the end of this day, the ship had moved 345 thousand kilometers from Earth.
On the fourth day, Apollo 11 entered the lunar shadow, and the astronauts were finally able to see the starry sky. On the same day, the ship entered the lunar orbit.
On the fifth day, that is, July 20, 1969, Armstrong and Aldrin went to the lunar module and activated all of its systems. On the 13th orbit around the moon, the lunar and main module undocked. The lunar module, which had the call sign "Eagle", entered the descent orbit. First, the module flew downwards with the windows so that the astronauts could navigate the terrain, when about 400 kilometers remained to the landing site, the pilot turned on the landing engine to start braking, at the same time the module was rotated 180 degrees so that the landing steps were directed towards the moon.
On the moon
On July 20 at 20:17:39 one of the module's steps touched the surface of the Moon. The landing took place 20 seconds before the landing engine should have completely run out of fuel, if the landing could not be completed in time, the astronauts would have to start an emergency takeoff, and they would not have reached the main goal - landing on the moon. The landing was so soft that the astronauts determined it only by instruments.
The first two hours on the surface, the astronauts prepared the module for an emergency take-off, which might be needed in an emergency, after which they asked for permission for an early exit to the surface, permission was given to them approximately 4 hours after landing, and 109 hours 16 minutes after launch from the ground, Armstrong began to squeeze through the exit hatch. After 8 minutes, descending the landing ladder, Armstrong took the first step to the moon, uttering the famous phrase: "This is one small step for man, but a giant leap for mankind." Aldrin followed Armstrong out of the module.
The astronauts stayed on the lunar surface for 2 and a half hours, they collected valuable rock samples, took many pictures and videos. After returning to the module cabin, the astronauts were resting.
Return to Earth
After returning to Earth, the Astronauts underwent strict quarantine in order to exclude the danger of introducing unknown infections to our planet.
The take-off engine was turned on 21 hours 36 minutes after landing. The module took off without incident and after more than three hours docked with the main module. By July 24, the crew safely reached the Earth and splashed down 3 kilometers from the calculated point.
On July 20, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to ever walk on the lunar surface. At that moment, he uttered his famous phrase: "A small step for man, but a giant leap for all mankind."
Photo report about the first man on the moon.
Neil Alden Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930 in the city of Wapakoneta in the US state of Ohio. (Photo by NASA Dryden Flight Research Center | Handout):
Most of his life was associated with flying machines. During his high school years, Neil attended classes at an aviation school and received his pilot's license before his driving license.
Photo: Apollo 11 crew: astronaut Neil Armstrong (left), who was the commander of this mission, lunar module pilot Edwin Buzz Aldrin (right) and Michael Collins, who piloted the command module on the Moon during the landing of Armstrong and Aldrin on the Moon. orbit. May 1, 1969. (NASA Photo | Handout | Reuters):
Neil Armstrong soon joined the US Navy as a test pilot. He tested jet aircraft and took part in the Korean War, during which he flew 78 sorties in the Grumman F9F Panther fighter-bomber and was shot down once. (Photo by NASA Dryden Flight Research Center | Handout | Reuters):
Neil Armstrong stood out among other test pilots for his exceptional self-control and composure, for which he received the nickname "Ice Captain". (NASA Photo | Handout | Reuters):
In 1947, the future astronaut began studying the aviation industry at the University. Over the years, Neil has tested over 200 models of aircraft, helicopters and gliders.
Photo: Neil Armstrong at the space center:
In 1958, Armstrong was enlisted in a group of pilots preparing to fly the experimental North American X-15 rocket plane. In total, until July 1962, he made 7 flights on these devices, but never once reached the 50 miles (80 km) mark, which was considered the boundary of space by the US Air Force.
Photo: Neil Armstrong training in the lunar module that will be used to descend to the lunar surface, 1969:
In September 1962, Neil Armstrong passed a 250-nominated competition and was admitted to NASA's astronaut recruitment. From that moment on, he began to prepare for a flight into space ...
Photo: Saturn V rocket with the Apollo 11 spacecraft at the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center before launching to the moon, July 1, 1969. (NASA Photo | Handout | Reuters):
In 1966, Neil Armstrong made his first space flight as the crew commander of the Gemini 8 spacecraft. During this flight, he and astronaut David Scott made the first docking of two spacecraft. True, this flight was canceled ahead of schedule due to a serious malfunction in the ship's attitude control engine system.
In the photo: the launch of the rocket with the spacecraft Apollo 11, July 16, 1969. The lunar mission has begun. (NASA Photo | Handout | Reuters):
There was an intense space race with the Soviet Union. This was the Americans' response to. On July 20, 1969, the crew of the Apollo 11 spacecraft landed on the Earth's natural satellite - the Moon.
Photo: Neil Armstrong on the lunar surface, July 20, 1969. (NASA Photo | Handout | Reuters):
It was Neil Armstrong who became the first person to set foot on the lunar surface, and his phrase "A small step for a man, but a giant leap for all mankind" flew around the world in a matter of minutes and went down in the history of world cosmonautics.
Photo: American astronaut Neil Armstrong next to the lander on the lunar surface. (Photo by Edwin Aldrin-NASA | Handout | Reuters):
Armstrong and his partner Edwin Aldrin spent 2.5 hours on the moon. They photographed the landscape, installed equipment on the lunar surface, with the help of which the distance to the Earth was measured with high accuracy, and also collected more than 20 kg of soil samples. On July 24, 1969, the Apollo 11 crew returned to Earth.
Photo: Lunar module pilot Edwin Buzz Aldrin sets up equipment on the lunar surface. The lunar module is also visible in the back frame, July 20, 1969:
The lunar module landing stage remained on the Moon with a sign: “Here people from planet Earth first set foot on the Moon. July 1969 is a new era. We come in peace on behalf of all humanity. " One of the lunar craters is named after Neil Armstrong.
Meanwhile, some researchers cite the American moon landing as the biggest hoax of the 20th century. In their opinion, there is a number of irrefutable evidence that American astronauts never landed on the surface of a natural satellite of the Earth. On the net you can find a lot of materials on this topic.
Photo: Astronaut Edwin Buzz Aldrin descends from the lunar module to the lunar surface, July 20, 1969:
Almost a year after the flight to the moon, in May-June 1970, Neil Armstrong came to us at. On May 20-27, 1970, as part of a delegation of NASA scientific specialists, he took part in the XIIIth annual conference of the Committee on Space Research in Leningrad. Neil made a big report on the first landing of people on the moon and his impressions of staying and working on the lunar surface.
Photo: After spending 2.5 hours on the lunar surface, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Buzz Aldrin return to the spacecraft on the lunar module, July 20, 1969:
Photo: Neil Armstrong inside the lunar module during his return from the moon to the spacecraft, July 20, 1969. (NASA Photo | Handout | Reuters):
During the days of the forum in Leningrad, the guards experienced great difficulty, restraining those who wanted to express their admiration for Armstrong. The Associated Press reported that it was an exciting and very unusual reception that foreign guests rarely receive in the Soviet Union. At the same time, the general public knew almost nothing about the astronaut's visit ...
Neil Armstrong and Valentina Tereshkova in front of the portrait of Yuri Gagarin, June 1970:
In 1971, Armstrong left his job at NASA and until 1979 taught at the University of Cincinnati in the Faculty of Engineering. From 1985 to 1986 he was a member of the National Cosmonautics Committee.
Photo: Neil Armstrong in our Star City, 1970:
In 1986, Neil became vice-chairman of the investigative commission, which studied the circumstances.
Photo: Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin Buzz Aldrin (right) and Michael Collins (left) 30 years after the historic flight to the moon, July 21, 1999. (Photo by Jamal Wilson | Files | Reuters):
Recently, former astronaut Neil Armstrong has lived in the suburbs of Cincinnati and led a secluded life, although he occasionally criticized the American space program.
Photo: Edwin Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins, Neil Armstrong and US President Barack Obama, July 20, 2009:
In particular, in 2010, he criticized Barack Obama's rejection of the Constellation program, within the framework of which new space technology and infrastructure were to be created that would allow flights to the Moon and Mars. Then the President of the United States bills this project too costly.
In 2011, Armstrong told Esquire magazine: “Astronauts don't die on Saturdays. At least I don't know of a single case. "
First man on the moon, astronaut Neil Armstrong died on Saturday 25 August 2012 in the United States at age 82 due to complications from heart surgery three weeks ago.
"A small step for man, but a giant leap for all mankind." (NASA Photo | Handout | Rueters):
