The World Was Gripped by the Apollo 11 Launch

It was the morning of July 16, 1969; the culmination of a decade-long American quest, first articulated by President John F. Kennedy, to put a man on the moon.

[richarddarlington]

It was so magnificent, some people can't believe it really happened.

[CHAS]

Wernher Von Braun can be counted as one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century. So much of the success of NASA leadership can be attributed to his genius and affability. John Kennedy recognized this, and his desire for redemption for all the damage his successful rockets had wrought during WW2. Von Braun is another of those enigmatic figures in history.

[micahturner]

WATCH OUT, all 8 of the “we never went to the moon” conspiracy theorists coming out of their moms basement to be keyboard warriors for the rest of the

[wpgordone]

I will always remember where I was during this great achievement !! If you've never been to Cape Canaveral !!

[Memphian]

Percentage wise more TVs watched this event worldwide than any other

[vettekid]

As a 13 yr old I remember watching the launch with my entire family and most of my friends I found out latter did the same thing.

[geomodelrailroader]

50 years ago Von Braun's and Kennedy's dream was realized Apollo 11 lifted off from Launch Pad 39 at Kennedy Space Center and went to the Moon it was history in the making.

[botwitaprice]

I remember viewing the launch as it happened, and better, when Niel Armstrong descended down the Lunar Modual ladder, and set foot on the moon.

[cecilsebastian]

Neil Armstrong's son looks just like him

[DenisCalligraphy]

To spend so many billions of $ to find that the Moon, and Mars and every other planet we have glimpsed are lifeless should give every human greater respect for life on Earth. It is our home and the greatest home. We have to recognise, acknowledge and correct the damage humans are still doing to this blue planet every day. We should believe in space, outer-space and inner-space, and allow space.

[davidkozlowski]

I recalled the entire incident Moment by moment and when they got there Neil Armstrong student ladder for 2 hours with Nixon's head in the upper right corner of the screen

[jackgargan]

Hmm I wonder why the whole world was hooked to this launch?


MAYBE IT WAS THE FACT THAT HUMANS WERE GOING TO THE MOON!!!!

[Saucyakld]

Just amazing! I was in awe at the time thinking how brave the people inside that cone were! You would not get me in one of those 😂

[NxDoyle]

Every bit of data is available. Add to that the fact that 400, 000 people in both public and private sectors were responsible for making the whole program work, there are time cards and memos and food receipts and Lord knows what else. Oh, I know...the massive rockets.

[philmrs]

Winderfull !!!
The best is the voice of "Jack King" He comments all launch of all Sarurn V lift off. But only at 16/07/69, he repeat three times, full emotional, "Loft off" then we have lift off" the "lift of of apollo 11"
All respect for all those persons.

[ericjohn]

the greatest hollywood production ever

[zoologicalmilitia]

Can anyone find and paste me the video of Buzz smuggling a piece of furniture onto the space ship, please?

[vplph]

Saturn 5... the most reliable of all... AND until a few months ago the most powerful vehicle ever built.

[deanwcampbell]

Looks like a great show. Too bad the rest of the world will never know.
From their website "Smithsonian Channel is not available to audiences outside of the U.S."

[ethimself]

This is the Smithsonian Channel and nowhere in this site is there a mention of the Smithsonian Institute. What's up Doc?