First we lose Pluto, now this...

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 10:12pm

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."

"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."

http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/software-reveals-armstrongs-moon-quote/20060930181709990006?ncid=NWS00010000000001

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 10:21pm

Now I get it. Updated On: 9/30/06 at 10:21 PM

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 10:24pm

Well, I must say that on the night (morning) that the moon walk actually took place, a few of us stayed at the theater where we were doing a show, to watch it (one of those people just recently passed away), and spoke about the missing "a"; and the fact that it made no sense. I never knew that Armstrong claimed to have said it.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 10:29pm

Crikey.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 10:31pm

F***in' A

[StageManager2]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 11:01pm

When are you guys going to learn? There was NO lunar landing! It was all staged and rehearsed. Armstrong simply botched his lines.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 11:02pm

No way, SM2. It was the first unscripted reality show I ever saw.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 11:08pm

The first unscripted reality TV show you saw was "Survivor: Dinosaurs" brought to you on stone vision.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 11:10pm

Also, don't forget THE T-REX HUNTER!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 11:11pm

My favorite was The Surreal Glacier.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 11:15pm

It makes sense to me without the "A'


Edit:"One small step for mankind, one giant leap for mankind."

That must be a typo in the article, becuase THAT makes no sense. Updated On: 9/30/06 at 11:15 PM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 11:17pm

Did you READ the whole article?

It was saying that without an article, "man" becomes general, referring to the species, "mankind."

It's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind = With his one step on the moon, it is a huge step for humans. Updated On: 9/30/06 at 11:17 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 11:25pm

It never made sense to me before either, but I thought it was just one of those stupid poetic license things that we were supposed to pretend was clear.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 11:49pm

I know that it was supposed to be "a man," but it just flows so much better when it doesn't make sense.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/1/06 at 10:45am

What he really said was " I hope I remembered to turn off the lights in the bedroom"

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/1/06 at 12:05pm

Don't forget his well wishes to Mr. Gorky.

eta: Oh, and obviously, none of you read the space magazine Oddysey as children, as there were several discussion on this very subject. Updated On: 10/1/06 at 12:05 PM