Skip to comments.
Neil Armstrong's Moon Quote Earns an 'A'
NewsMax ^
| 9/30/06
| AP
Posted on 09/30/2006 3:11:28 PM PDT by wagglebee
That's one small word for astronaut Neil Armstrong, one giant revision for grammar sticklers everywhere.
An Australian computer programmer says he found the missing "a" from Armstrong's famous first words from the moon in 1969, when the world heard the phrase, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
The story was reported in Saturday's editions of the Houston Chronicle.
Some historians and critics have dogged Armstrong for not saying the more dramatic and grammatically correct, "One small step for a man . . ." in the version he transmitted to NASA's Mission Control. Without the missing "a," Armstrong essentially said, "One small step for mankind, one giant leap for mankind."
The famous astronaut has maintained he intended to say it properly and believes he did. Thanks to some high-tech sound-editing software, computer programmer Peter Shann Ford might have proved Armstrong right.
Ford said he downloaded the audio recording of Armstrong's words from a NASA Web site and analyzed the statement with software that allows disabled people to communicate through computers using their nerve impulses.
In a graphical representation of the famous phrase, Ford said he found evidence that the missing "a" was spoken and transmitted to NASA.
"I have reviewed the data and Peter Ford's analysis of it, and I find the technology interesting and useful," Armstrong said in a statement. "I also find his conclusion persuasive. Persuasive is the appropriate word."
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abigwhocaresbolded; aisforahole; apollo11; icare; moonwalk; nasa; neilarmstrong; nobodycares; slownewsday; thisissilly; whotruelycares
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 101-113 next last
To: wagglebee
"Roger Twanquility ..." the other goof.
21
posted on
09/30/2006 3:46:44 PM PDT
by
BallyBill
(Serial Hit-N-Run poster)
To: Riley
I'm not sure what your implication is - a non sequitur I suspect - but imo, Liberals are like babies who haven't even taken a first step, but instead lay curled up on their sides, sucking on their thumbs, wailing, whining and gnashing their gums.
22
posted on
09/30/2006 3:48:24 PM PDT
by
the anti-liberal
(OUR schools are damaging OUR children)
To: the anti-liberal
I wonder if we're ever going to learn to walk? A tragic number of decisions in the late 60's and early 70's ensured our current status as LEO visitors.
To: the anti-liberal
It's just that it's rare to agree with them on any sort of philisophical basis, about anything at all.
24
posted on
09/30/2006 3:52:07 PM PDT
by
Riley
(The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
To: wagglebee
Years ago, Martin Gardner, the editor of the wonderful "Mathematical Games" column in the old Scientifc American, did a short write-up on all the ways the number "11" had turned up in the Apollo mission. He pointed out that the omitted "a" from Armstrong's famous line resulted in it's being exactly 11 words long. Even though Armstrong said that he had pronounced the "a", so strong was the numerological karma that the crucial sound was edited out of the radio transmission as it winged it's way to earth.
To: Riley
Ah, I understand now. Though they may agree with this one point, I suspect their reasons for agreeing are not in agreement.
26
posted on
09/30/2006 3:55:43 PM PDT
by
the anti-liberal
(OUR schools are damaging OUR children)
To: operation clinton cleanup
Perhaps that should be LEOO - low earth orbit only.
27
posted on
09/30/2006 3:56:35 PM PDT
by
the anti-liberal
(OUR schools are damaging OUR children)
To: bpjam
Good one!
Bubba: "I did not have sex with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky...... and I am truly committed to aggressively tracking down and killing that vicious camel-humper, Mr. Bin Laden, and dismantling his entire terror organization of camel-humping lunatics!"
There, Bubba's version is now ready for the history books.......
28
posted on
09/30/2006 3:59:39 PM PDT
by
Enchante
(There are 3 kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and the Drive-By Media)
To: operation clinton cleanup
Is that OJ on the sound stage?????
29
posted on
09/30/2006 4:00:13 PM PDT
by
Roccus
(Dealing with Democrats IS the War on Terror. [Stolen from FReeper Stallone])
To: All
"Some historians and critics have dogged Armstrong for not saying the more dramatic and grammatically correct, "One small step for a man . . ." in the version he transmitted to NASA's Mission Control." I suspect that these same historians and critics would have been peeing their pants, hyperventilating, and screaming "mommy get me out of here!!!!!" into the microphone if they were in Armstrong's position at the time.
To: wagglebee
That is the edited version.
What really happened was he slipped and said "One small step for a man and one HOLY S***!"
While Buzz did a redneck half gainer off the first step saying "Hey Y'all watch this!"
Kidding! Truly a great moment for America! I can't wait to go back. I would go if I was asked (not holding my breath). And no, I am not being sarcastic. I think the space program is money well spent! I really do.
31
posted on
09/30/2006 4:02:02 PM PDT
by
truemiester
(If the U.S. should fail, a veil of darkness will come over the Earth for a thousand years)
To: bpjam
Use Rush's "voice disgronificator" that he uses to translate Teddy Kennedy.
32
posted on
09/30/2006 4:04:53 PM PDT
by
Finalapproach29er
(Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush II --> Appeasing Islam for 27 years)
To: Enchante
I just found an extra 'is' in Clinton's explanations
33
posted on
09/30/2006 4:05:01 PM PDT
by
woofie
To: wagglebee
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." It's correct as spoken/written. The "...one small step for man,..." refers to genus man which includes the male and female of the species. The only problem here is that problem with the politically correct crowd and I say, "screw 'em."
34
posted on
09/30/2006 4:07:33 PM PDT
by
davisfh
To: Dixie Yooper
I have a colleague from Romania who flew Migs in their Air Force and defected in the 70's. When I asked him why he wanted to be an American his memorable quote was "because the Americans are the only country on Earth who have had men $#!+ on the moon".
35
posted on
09/30/2006 4:08:30 PM PDT
by
saganite
(Billions and billions and billions-------and that's just the NASA budget!)
To: wagglebee
Since the day I heard it, I've always thought he meant 'One small step for man (the animal), one giant leap for mankind (the toolmaker, inventor, and visionary)'.
I still think there's a meaningful distinction.
36
posted on
09/30/2006 4:11:37 PM PDT
by
CaptRon
(Pedecaris alive or Raisuli dead)
To: wagglebee
I knew it was there all along!
To: All; wagglebee
.
In this new LIBERTY Century...
praise GOD that...
President BUSH is sending us...
back to Earth's Moon,
permanently, and...
then on to the Planet MARS,
...bringing those still living in the 7th Century AD on the Earth...
...along for the ride...?
.
38
posted on
09/30/2006 4:23:26 PM PDT
by
ALOHA RONNIE
("ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer/Veteran-"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of IA DRANG-1965 http://www.lzxray.com)
To: wagglebee
I rather like the "original" without the "a".
To: wagglebee
Armstrong knew he blew the line, and that is why the awkward pause in the second part.
40
posted on
09/30/2006 4:29:45 PM PDT
by
RightWhale
(Repeal the law of the excluded middle)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 101-113 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson