Moon landing anniversary: How Daily Express reported NASA's Apollo 11 50 years ago today

NASA landed on the Moon half-a-century ago in the evening hours of July 20, 1969. Here in the UK, millions watched Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin after they landed at precisely 9.17pm BST (8.17pm UTC). When Commander Armstrong buzzed NASA’s Mission Control the “Eagle has landed”, everyone knew the mission was a success. The following morning, on July 21, the front page of the Daily Express read: “Man steps on to Moon.” 

The entire front page of the Monday, July 21, 1969, issue of the Daily Express was dedicated to the Moon landing. 

Reporting from Houston, Texas, were Robin Esser, Ross Mark and Richard Kilian. 

They wrote: “Man set foot on the Moon at 3.56 this morning. Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin brought the time for their walk on the lunar surface forward by four hours. 

“The change of plan was decided on two hours after the landing craft had touched down in the Moon’s Sea of Tranquility. 

READ MORE: Moon landing: 11 amazing facts about NASA’s Apollo 11 mission

Moon landing anniversary: Daily Express front page

Moon landing anniversary: Daily Express front page on July 21, 1969 (Image: DAILY EXPRESS)

Moon landing anniversary: Daily Express front page

Moon landing: The entire front page was dedicated to Apollo 11 (Image: DAILY EXPRESS)

“The astronauts’ doctor, Dr Charles Berry, said: ‘It would have been virtually impossible for them to go to sleep when they were excited.’

“Armstrong, the mission commander, was first down the ladder on to the Moon as planned. 

“As he set foot on the lunar surface he said: ‘That’s one small step for man, but one giant leap for mankind.’” 

Armstrong and Aldrin were the first of 12 men in total who had the privilege of walking the lunar surface between 1969 and 1972. 

READ MORE: How far away is the Moon? How many miles did Apollo 11 travel in 1969?

The third Apollo 11 astronaut, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, remained inside of the Command Module Columbia throughout the entirety of the mission. 

Collins retired from spaceflight soon after the Apollo 11 mission but without him behind the helm of Columbia, Armstrong and Aldrin may have never returned to Earth. 

The two astronauts spent altogether 21 hours and 31 minutes on the Moon but less than three of those were spent outside on the surface. 

Once lunar activities were completed, Apollo 11 blasted off back into lunar orbit where the two astronauts rendezvoused with Collins and the Columbia. 

READ MORE: Moon landing quotes: ‘One small step’ and other memorable speeches

Three days later on July 24, 1969, the Columbia splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, where the Apollo astronauts were found alive and well. 

That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind

Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11 astronaut

Less than a week later, on July 30, the Moon landing once again graced the front page of the Daily Express with the headline “Footprints on the Moon”. 

The front page featured a breathtaking photo of the US flag firmly planted on the Moon, snapped from the Lunar Module Eagle. 

The Daily Express reported from Houston, Texas: “Man in rib-soled boots makes footprints on the Moon. He plants his flag. Beyond the flag he sets up a TV camera on a white tripod – top right in the picture. 

READ MORE: What was NASA’s last mission to the Moon?

Moon landing timeline: Apollo 11 on the Moon

Moon landing timeline: Detailed look back at the Apollo 11 Moon landing (Image: GETTY)

Moon landing anniversary: Daily Express front page

Moon landing: This is the photo that featured on the front page on July 30, 1969 (Image: NASA/DAILY EXPRESS)

“This photograph of man’s first landfall outside Earth was taken from inside the lunar craft Eagle. Its shadow falls on the picture – bottom right. 

“When Neil Armstrong stepped on to the Moon he said: ‘The surface is almost like powered. I can pick it up loosely with my toe.’

“The soles of those boots were two inches thick. 

“Armstrong said that when he took the first steps he made an imprint bout one-eighth of an inch deep. 

“Later he walked on a softer surface and his footprints were nearly an inch deep.”

source: express.co.uk