Michael Jackson might have popularized the moonwalk, but we all know Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin did it first. And even in the wake of Jacko’s death they are getting some much-deserved attention as the country gears up to honor an important part of its history: the 40th anniversary of the lunar landing.
Four decades later, jaws continue to drop as we look up at the moon and recall the iconic image of Armstrong and Aldrin hoisting an American flag into the moon dust and Armstrong uttering those still goosebump-worthy words: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” There are many events planned around the country to honor this awe-inspiring moment … check out some of the most noteworthy:
Houston
Not surprisingly, the home of Apollo 11’s Mission Control has a whole slew of events honoring its role in history. On Sat., July 18, NASA partners with the University of Houston-Clear Lake for “Fly Me To the Moon: A Community Celebration of the First Lunar Landing.” The retro event taking place at the school’s Alumni Plaza will feature a 1969 family-style picnic, an outdoor viewing of the first lunar landing on a giant inflatable screen, star gazing with telescopes guided by astronomers, special NASA guests and speakers and more. On July 24, Space Center Houston, the official visitor’s center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, hosts its anniversary Splashdown, featuring Armstrong, Aldrin and others appearing in person to talk about the historic space flight. For a list of additional events in the city, click here.
Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC
On Thu., July 16, the popular (and free!) museum hosts Countdown to the Moon Day. The event allows visitors to touch a piece of moon rock, talk with scientists active in lunar research and mission planning, view 3-D and HD images of the lunar surface and more. For additional events, click here.
Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Buzz Aldrin will be on hand Thu., July 16 along with several other Apollo astronauts to reminisce about the lunar landing and open the brand-new Apollo Treasures Gallery, which showcases items used on Apollo lunar missions, including space suits and instructions on how to deploy an American flag on the moon. Four days later, the Space Center hosts a decidedly wackier event when it hosts one of the world’s largest MoonPies. The decadent delicacy weighs in at 55 pounds and includes six pounds of chocolate and 14 pounds of marshmallow. We have a tummy ache already. Click here for a full schedule of events.
Photo courtesy of joiseyshowaa via Flickr.