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Parent Category: Advanced News Lessons

Category: Science and Technology

Written by Chris Cotter

How important do you regard history? Are some events innately more important than others? How would you rate Apollo 11, which landed on the Moon on July 20, 1969? Forty years ago, Neil Armstrong stepped from the lunar module and uttered the words, "This is one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Apparently someone at NASA didn't see the moment as especially important, or at least not important enough to save the original video footage of the live transmission. Officials at the space agency discovered roughly three years ago that the tapes had been erased and reused for other missions at some point during the 1970s or 1980s. It was an embarrassing and mind-bogglingrealization. How could such a momentous event in history be lost to the world, particularly when so many other artifacts were saved? Many scientists and historians were aghast at the news, even when four copies were finally procured from around the world.

Hollywood has come to the rescue. As the four copies had badly degraded over the years, the footage appeared even fuzzier and grainier than the original transmissions. Although not yet finished, the shots of Armstrong, Aldrin, and the other men will be cleaned and sharpened, bringing out details. No footage will be manufactured during the process, as historical accuracy and importance are receiving attention.

Only 40% of the work has been completed in what is anticipated to be a months' long project. Yet NASA has proudly trotted out some of the footage, just in time for the 40th anniversary of the historical occasion.