A small step for (a) man a giant leap for mankind
On the 20th of July, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. His space conquest not only marked the lunar surface; he left an indelible “Media footprint,” which inspired generations and was part of the popular culture.
The lunar landing became one of the first global events in History. It is estimated that Armstrong’s descent to the lunar surface has been accompanied by the eyes – and ears – of more than 500 million viewers.
However, it seems that not all were able to decipher the true words of the astronaut. “A small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind” is the phrase that the commander states that he has said.
Due to the audio conditions and Armstrong’s accent, a slightly different version was immortalised in History: “A small step for man, to leap giant for mankind.”
With or without the vowel, the words of Armstrong became synonymous of the space age’s success, and the adventurous spirit that inspired Man to conquer the universe.