Anxious lead-up to lunar triumph

It was a feat many thought would never be achieved in their lifetime — the successful landing of humans on the Moon.

It was a feat many thought would never be achieved in their lifetime — the successful landing of ­humans on the Moon.

But on July 20, 1969 — defying expectations to a television audience of more than 500 million — the Apollo 11 spacecraft touched down on the lunar surface and US astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first people to set foot on the Moon.

Fifty years on and the mission is still regarded as one of mankind’s greatest achievements. As Armstrong described it: “One small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.”

On this weekend half a century ago, two weeks out from the momentous space quest, the world was waiting in nervous anticipation and a potential mission failure was feared.

On Saturday, July 5, 1969, The Weekend Australian launched a Countdown to the Moon campaign, which outlined the dangers of the coming space journey.

“The slightest error and astronauts Aldrin and Armstrong could be marooned forever on the moon,” the front page story read.

“The slightest miscalculation in flight could leave them whirling in space. The slightest flaw in their spacesuits could set their blood boiling within seconds — and bring agonising death within three minutes. It will have cost America $24,000 million by the time Apollo 11 blasts off on July 16 on its hazardous and spectacular mission.”

Today, The Weekend Australian is launching another Countdown to the Moon campaign to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic moon landing.

To accompany the campaign, we want to hear from readers who witnessed the event from Earth.

Where were you when the landing took place? What was the atmosphere like? Do you have photographs of the moment? Perhaps the event sparked a long-lasting interest in space and adventure?

Go to theaustralian.com.au/memories to submit your moon memories and photographs.