New wave astronauts ‘carry the torch’ for moon landers

A Russian, American and Italian have blasted off into space on the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing, in a fitting tribute to the Apollo 11 crew.

Three astronauts have blasted off into space on the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing as Americans attended events across the country to commemorate the milestone.

American Andrew Morgan, Russian Alexander Skvortsov and Italian Luca Parmitano lifted off in the Soyuz spacecraft at 2.28am AEST from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the same date that NASA’s Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon in 1969.

Morgan said it was a fitting tribute to the Apollo 11 crew to be heading off to the International Space Station on the 50th anniversary on the Moon landings. Russian Alexey Ovchinin and Americans Nick Hague and Christina Koch have been aboard the ISS since March.

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US astronaut Andrew Morgan gestures to his relatives from a bus prior the launch of Soyuz MS-13 space ship. Picture: AP

US astronaut Andrew Morgan, Russian cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov and Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano. Picture: AFP

“It is a huge honour for both my Soyuz crew as well as the entire crew of expedition 60 that we will be joining,” he said. “It’s a beautiful way to commemorate the Moon landing.”

Morgan said he hoped he could both “carry the torch forward” for NASA and also inspire a new generation to dream of space exploration.

Flanked by Apollo 11 astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, Vice President Mike Pence, chairman of the National Space Council, announced at the Kennedy Space Centre that the Orion capsule that will take American astronauts back to the moon in 2024 is now ready.

“On this historic occasion I am told that we have achieved a critical milestone in our effort to go to the Moon and beyond,” he said. “The Orion crew vehicle for the Artemis mission is complete and ready to begin preparations for its historic first flight. In the coming years American astronauts will return to the Moon aboard the Orion.”

Russia's Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft carrying the members of the International Space Station (ISS) expedition 60/61, NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan, Russian cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov and Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano of ESA. Picture: AFP

Mr Pence earlier tweeted photos with Aldrin and Neil Armstrong’s son, Rick, at the Apollo 11 launch pad.

Aldrin had a humble message to Americans on the 50th anniversary, saying “today belongs to you”.

“Looking back, landing on the moon wasn’t just our job, it was a historic opportunity to prove to the world America’s can-do spirit. I’m proud to serve the country that gave me this historic opportunity,” he said.

NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan. Picture: AFP

Russia's Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft carrying the members of the International Space Station (ISS) expedition 60/61. Picture: AFP

In Armstrong’s hometown of Wapakoneta, Ohio, nearly 2000 runners competed in “Run to the Moon” races.

“We’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of perhaps the most historic event in my lifetime, maybe in anybody’s lifetime, the landing on the moon,” 10K runner Robert Rocco, 54, told AP. “The ‘60s were very turbulent. But that one bright wonderful moment was the space program.”

Huge crowds were drawn to the Museum of Flight in Seattle, where the spacecraft that carried Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins was on display.

Tim Turner drove 120 kilometres to be the first in line to see the Apollo 11 command module, Columbia.

“It was just the novelty of it all. Good grief. It’s still amazing, the number one feat of the 20th century, if not all of modern history, that first time there,” he told AP.

In New York City, a moon-landing party was moved from Times Square to a nearby hotel due to a heatwave.

July, 1969: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin poses for a photograph beside the US flag on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. Picture: AP

Expedition 60 flight engineer Luca Parmitano of ESA (top), flight engineer Drew Morgan of NASA (C) and Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos wave farewell prior to boarding the Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft for launch. Picture: AFP

NASA chief Jim Bridenstine said the main reason today was special for millions of Americans was because Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins showed the world that anything was possible.

“The enduring legacy of the Moon landing were the countless young Americans they inspired to join science, technology, engineering and maths fields of study,” he said. “If you were alive then you will never forget where you were at that moment in history because it is when many released that dreams could become reality.”

Originally published as New wave astronauts ‘carry the torch’ for moon landers