Displaying items by tag: First Man

In October, a new movie, First Man, will debut. It is already generating rave reviews from the movie critics. Unfortunately, it is not historically accurate. The movie is about Neil Armstrong, the American astronaut who made history as the first man to step foot on the moon. The movie tells his incredible story, but omits one key aspect of his moon landing on July 20, 1969. The movie does not show Armstrong firmly planting the American flag on the moon’s barren surface.

The moon landing occurred after a decade of tremendous spending and commitment by three presidential administrations. On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy famously announced the goal of sending an American astronaut to the moon by the end of the decade. Kennedy’s goal was realized eight years later in an event that captured the world’s attention.