On 21 July 1969, the American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to stand on the Moon.
He'd been sent there alongside two other astronauts not for scientific reasons, but by a President Kennedy keen to prove the USA's technical pre-eminence.
It was an achievement that had the entire world spellbound from the moment Armstrong famously fluffed his lines as he made footfall.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments