TLS, one page, 8 x 10.5, NASA letterhead, stamp-dated June 23, 1969. Letter of thanks to a woman in Honolulu, Hawaii, written just three weeks before launch. In full: “Colonel Aldrin and I appreciate your taking the time to write us for your suggestion on a message from the lunar surface. We do not know at this time what our inclination will be should we be successful in our landing attempt. I certainly hope you will be pleased with whatever message we do have and the impressions that people on earth receive from our efforts.” Accompanied by a printed Apollo 11 mission plan from NASA. In fine condition, with Armstrong’s flourish lightly affecting Aldrin’s signature, and the opening stroke of another Armstrong signature, inadvertently started in Aldrin’s space.
Three weeks later, Armstrong, Aldrin, and Michael Collins would lift off for the moon on Apollo 11. On July 21, 1969, as Armstrong set foot on the surface of the moon he spoke his now famous line, “That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.” Armstrong told his biographer James Hansen that he composed the phrase during the six hours and 40 minutes between his drama-tinged landing and the time he and Apollo 11 crew mate Buzz Aldrin emerged from their lander, Eagle, to walk on the moon. Neil said that he had intended to say 'one small step for a man' and believed that he had done so. However, he also agreed that the 'a' didn't seem to be audible in the recordings. Armstrong later said he "would hope that history would grant me leeway for dropping the syllable and understand that it was certainly intended, even if it was not said – although it might actually have been.” Armstrong has expressed his preference that written quotations include the "a" in parentheses. As far as we can tell, this is the only correspondence we have seen between Armstrong and Aldrin and someone outside of NASA regarding what would become one of the most historic and familiar quotes of modern times. Pre-certified Scott Cornish and RRAuction COA.
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