Volta
Science21 July 1969 (UTC)

Television from the Moon

Also called: Apollo 11 broadcast

On 21 July 1969 (UTC) Armstrong’s first step onto the Moon was broadcast live and watched by some 600 million people, about a fifth of the world. The signal was received at Honeysuckle Creek and Parkes in Australia.

Armstrong coming down the ladder — the television picture the world saw
Armstrong coming down the ladder — the television picture the world saw

National Aeronautics and Space Administration · Public domain · Source

The television camera on the ladder of the lunar module Eagle sent black-and-white pictures at ten frames a second. The Moon was then over the Pacific side of the Earth, so antennas at Goldstone in the US and Honeysuckle Creek and Parkes in Australia all received the signal. The first pictures of Armstrong coming down the ladder that went out to the world were Honeysuckle Creek’s, which were clearer; minutes later the feed switched to the 64 m Parkes radio telescope.

Some 600 million people, about a fifth of the world’s population, are thought to have watched live. Koreans watched too, and the government made the day (21 July, Korean time) a special public holiday. President Nixon spoke by telephone from the White House with the two men on the Moon.

Show on the map

The map in 1969

Open the full map

OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors

States and rulers at the time
United States — President Richard Nixon
Places
Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station, Parkes Radio Telescope

People

  • Neil Armstrong1930 – 2012

    participant · American astronaut, commander of Apollo 11, who on 21 July 1969 (UTC) became the first person to step onto the Moon

Before and after

Later
1969 Apollo 11 splashdown

Themes that include this event

  • Space Exploration1957 – 1970

    From Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, to Apollo 11’s first landing on the Moon and Apollo 13’s return from behind it — the paths of those who left the Earth