A rocket began countdown . It was a common sound in the 1960s. But this was not just another countdown. It was the beginning of a historic event. It was the countdown of Apollo 11 -the space fligh that would carry men to the first landing on the moon. 

In the spaceship at the top of the rocket were three American astronauts whose names would soon be known around the world: Neil Armstrong. Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins. 

Neil Armstrong was the commander of the spaceship. Edwin Aldrin was the pilot of the moon lander. The astronauts gave it the name the Eagle. Michael Collins was the pilot of the command module , Columbia. He would wait in orbit around the moon while Armstrong and Aldrin landed and explored the surface. 

On Earth, all activity seemed to stop. President Richard Nixon gave federal government workers the day off to watch the moon landing on television. Around the world, 500 million people watched the television report. Countless millions more listened on their radios. 

Armstrong and Aldrin started the lander rocket engine. It slowed the spacecraft and sent it down toward the landing place. It was in an area known as the "Sea of Tranquility ". 

The moon lander, controlled by a computer, dropped toward the airless surface of the moon. 140 meters from the surface, the astronauts look control of the lander from the computer. They moved the Eagle forward, away from a very rocky area that might have caused a difficult landing. 

It took the astronauts more than three hours to complete the preparations for leaving the lander. It was difficult - in the Eagle's small space - to get into space suits that would protect them on the moon's surface. 

Finally, Armstrong and Aldrin were ready. They opened the door. Armstrong went out first and moved slowly down the ladder. At 2:56 on July 20th, 1969, Neil Armstrong put his foot on the moon. 

"That's one small step for man,"he said, "one giant leap for mankind."
Which astronauts were on the spaceship?
which spaceship?
who was piloting?
Who was commander?
what was so special about this flight?
who was pilot of the command module?
did he also explore the moon's surface?
what did he do?
who did get out and walk on the moon?
who got the day off that day?
how many watched it on TV?
who was president?
What area did the spaceship land?
how long did they prepare to leave the craft?
who went out first?
what was the exact time?
Did he say something?
where was the spacecraft moved from after initial landing?
what did they wear to protect them from the moon's atmosphere?
was the moon lander being manipulated by a computer?
Neil Armstrong. Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins
Neil Armstrong. Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins
Apollo 11
Apollo 11
Edwin Aldrin
Edwin Aldrin
Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong
It was the space flight that would carry men to the first landing on the moon
the space fligh that would carry men to the first landing on the moon
Michael Collins
Michael Collins
No
He would wait in orbit
He waited in orbit around the moon
He would wait in orbit around the moon
Armstrong and Aldrin
Armstrong and Aldrin
federal government workers
federal government workers
500 million people
500 million people
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
in an area known as the "Sea of Tranquility "
in an area known as the "Sea of Tranquility "
more than three hours
more than three hours
Armstrong
Armstrong
2:56 on July 20th, 1969
2:56 on July 20th, 1969
He said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
"That's one small step for man,"he said, "one giant leap for mankind."
It was moved away from a very rocky area that might have caused a difficult landing
away from a very rocky area that might have caused a difficult landing
space suits
space suits
Yes
controlled by a computer