Did Neil Armstrong really say ‘That’s one small step for man’?
When Neil Armstrong stepped onto the Moon, he spoke the iconic words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." At least, that’s what many people think he said.
There’s actually been some debate over the astronaut’s exact words, because Armstrong himself claimed to have said, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
The problem for Armstrong (and grammar gurus) is: The audio recording of his line doesn’t pick that “a” up at all.
Or does it?
In 2006, a computer programmer used software to analyze Armstrong’s quote, and found a 35-millisecond sound wave bump that might be Armstrong’s missing “a.” Researchers at Michigan State University also found evidence that Armstrong did indeed say “a man,” and it’s just not discernible in the audio.
Either way, Armstrong’s words made history, as did his first step on the Moon – which really wasn’t that small. Rather than a single step off the ladder, Armstrong stepped off and dropped 3.5 feet!
Interested in learning more about the historic Apollo 11 mission? Join us for our weekend-long celebration of the mission’s 50th anniversary on July 20 and 21! Get tickets now for Moon Mania: The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11.
