Magnificent desolation
By Eric Hartwell -- Thursday, November 22, 2007
Not surprisingly, Neil Armstrong's description was highly technical[1]:
- 109:23:38 Armstrong: I'm at the foot of the ladder. The LM footpads are only depressed in the surface about 1 or 2 inches, although the surface appears to be very, very fine grained, as you get close to it. It's almost like a powder. (The) ground mass is very fine. (Pause)
- 109:24:13 Armstrong: I'm going to step off the LM now. (Long Pause)
- 109:24:48 Armstrong: That's one small step for (a) man; one giant leap for mankind. (Long Pause)
- 109:25:08 Armstrong: Yes, the surface is fine and powdery. I can kick it up loosely with my toe. It does adhere in fine layers, like powdered charcoal, to the sole and sides of my boots. I only go in a small fraction of an inch, maybe an eighth of an inch, but I can see the footprints of my boots and the treads in the fine, sandy particles.
Buzz Aldrin's description was much more poetic[1]:
- 109:43:16 Aldrin: Beautiful view!
- 109:43:18 Armstrong: Isn't that something! Magnificent sight out here.
- 109:43:24 Aldrin: Magnificent desolation. (Long Pause)
Recently I watched George Pal's 1950 film, Destination Moon. After they step onto the surface, and take posession "on behalf of and for the benefit of all mankind", the moonwalkers are asked, "Can you give us your first impressions of the moon?". Dr. Cargraves (Warner Anderson) replies, "Well, I'll try. The first impression is one of utter barrenness and desolation."
The movie was loosely based on wikipedia:Rocket Ship Galileo by Robert A. Heinlein, who also helped write the script. In the book Heinlein describes the moon as "a scene of blistering desert desolation".
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "One Small Step", Apollo 11 Lunar Surface Journal