Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Computer Analysis Sets NASA History Straight

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the darn-it-i-said-it-right dept.

Ellis D. Tripp writes, "A computer analysis has upheld Neil Armstrong's version of the first words spoken on the lunar surface. The word 'a' was dropped due to a communications glitch, and Armstrong has been accused of flubbing his words since the historic 1969 landing. The corrected statement was 'That's one small step for *A* man, One giant leap for mankind.'"

15 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. Good news by Linker3000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, I am glad that's finally sorted - I've been losing sleep over the issue for years.

    --
    AT&ROFLMAO
  2. And in other news... by techno-vampire · · Score: 5, Funny

    This just in: computer analysis has revealed that Han Solo did, in fact, shoot first!

    --
    Good, inexpensive web hosting
    1. Re:And in other news... by wrook · · Score: 4, Funny

      Damnit! I *swear* I typed the "if". Must be a communications glitch...

  3. Re:*Ahem* by ianejames · · Score: 4, Funny

    mod parent "funny troll"

  4. What he really said: by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

    Actually he said:

    "Ah shit! I pissed my pants!"

    because he was so nervous. Remember, he is an engineer, not a spokesman. But it was covered up.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
    1. Re:What he really said: by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

      I would be pretty nervous to. Who hasn't had something come out wrong, when they were making a presentation,

      Indeed. If they sent me, it probably would have gone down something like this:

      That's one sman, uh, that's one step for a small man, I mean one man for a small, I mean one step on a small, I mean one man is a small....Oh fuck! People of Earth, I'm on the goddam fucking moon, okay? And, hey, fuck those ruskies, eh?

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
  5. NASA Alzheimers by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    First NASA loses Apollo TV master tapes, and now it loses pronouns. At this rate it will lose a planet within a decade such that we'll have only 8.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  6. The Straight Dope by aktzin · · Score: 4, Funny
    This story reminded me of a "Straight Dope" article I read years ago regarding something Armstrong allegedly mumbled right after his famous first words on the moon:

    http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a951117.html

    While searching for this in the web site's archives I also found an entry from 1990 discussing the "small step for a man" argument:

    http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_362.html

    My parents tell me that I actually saw the moon landing, but since I was a baby at the time I really can't comment on what I heard him say.
    --
    Quantum mechanics: the dreams that stuff is made of.
  7. Government vs. commercial by whyde · · Score: 4, Funny

    All I can say is thank goodness the first person on the moon wasn't put there by a commercial entity. I'm sure the first words would have been something like, "That's one small step for a man, but a Taco Bell Gordito(tm) is much bigger!"

    Either that, or some other government making a political sound bite that promotes a specific ideology or theology instead of something referencing the accomplishments of mankind in general, would have been equally disturbing.

    I'm really proud that the folks at NASA took time to plan what would be said, realizing that it would be a historic moment.

    1. Re:Government vs. commercial by windowpain · · Score: 4, Funny

      The comedian Robert Klein actually did a bit about this. How Armstrong could have made a fortune by selling out before he left Earth and then saying, "COCA-COLA!" as he put his foot out on the moon.

      --
      Insert witty sig here.
  8. Re:*Ahem* by Kahless2k · · Score: 5, Funny

    Would you people stop modding my parents; They're starting to complain.

    *ducks*

  9. Greedo by SeaFox · · Score: 5, Funny
    Well, I am glad that's finally sorted

    Yup, the Moon spoke first! No, wait...
  10. According to the HBO miniseries... by Ellis+D.+Tripp · · Score: 4, Funny

    "From the Earth to the Moon", command module pilot Mike Collins suggested that if Neil "...had any guts, you would say "What the hell is that?!", then scream and cut your mike." :)

    --
    Remember "News for Nerds, Stuff that Matters"? Help make it a reality again! http://soylentnews.org
  11. Han by SeaFox · · Score: 4, Funny
    No, wait...

    Armstrong desended the ladder and was about to step on the surface when it was Aldrin that spoke first...

    "Wait, Neil! That's no moon..."
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    (I know it's not kosher to reply to yourself but I accidentally set this set up with the "No, wait...")
  12. His REAL first words by Spackler · · Score: 4, Funny

    In 1972, Armstrong cleared up his first words were actually:

    Holy Shit! I'm on the fscking moon!