Description:

Apollo XI

Apollo XI moonwalk teletype

Contemporary teletype recounting the historic July 21, 1969 moonwalk of American astronauts Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin (born 1930). The document, printed in indigo ink on one continuous piece of rolled paper, provides a riveting moment by moment account of the Apollo XI mission. Minor water staining and discoloration at the top of the roll, with minor loss to the upper right corner and a few small tears. Toned throughout else near fine. The document measures approximately 8.375" x 134" unfurled.

 

The teletype was likely printed by a news agency and provides a mixture of prepared press bulletins, transcripts between Houston ground control and Tranquility Bay crewmen Armstrong and Aldrin, and a resume of the first 2 hours the astronauts spent on the moon.

 

Much of the teletype is written in the present tense, as events were unfolding before an estimated 450 million spectators worldwide. Sometimes static interferes with the feed, or radio contact is broken between the astronauts and the Houston space station, resulting in unbearable suspense. Ellipses in the transcript enable us to imagine the news anchor delivering updates with occasional awestruck pauses. A few grammatical errors in the transcript testify to the rapidity at which the teletype was transmitting information.

 

"Two American spacemen stood…walked…hopped and worked on the surface of the moon tonight…and the world watched the climax of centuries of dreams and ambitions.

 

Astronauts [sic] Neil Armstrong is the first man to set a foot on an alien world. He put his left foot…in a space boot six inches wide and 13 inches long…onto the moon 20 seconds after 10:56 P-M (EDT). Just about 20 minutes later Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin joined him. As he moved his foot, Armstrong announced: 'That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Aldrin's first words on the lunar surface were 'Magnificent desolation.'"

 

While on the moon, the astronauts planted a flag and plaque, took photographs, placed a TV camera, collected geological samples, set up seismic and laser experiments, and even received a celebratory phone call from 37th U.S. President Richard Nixon (1913-1994).

 

The teletype records cabin pressure checks and even the astronauts' vitals, creating a remarkably intimate account of the historic moonwalk!

 

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