‘Moon Landing Live’ Recap

Written by John Edward Betancourt

‘That’s one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind.’
-Neil Armstrong
Tranquility Base – July 20th, 1969

If there is one question that is supremely important to modern mankind, it would have to be ‘where were you, when…?’ Because asking that question to folks that lived through an important and formative moment in human history, allows for us to get a true understanding, in every way imaginable, about how people felt on that particular day and it’s a question that I’ve posed toward my parents often throughout the years. But while their insight has been invaluable and poignant in its own right, let’s be honest, experiencing those all-important moments is the only true way to understand what they mean to mankind and history as a whole and thankfully, technology is trying to make such a feat possible.
​
For old footage of historical events is now being remastered and restored to preserve the importance of yesterday and last night, BBC America took the time to air a beautiful, restored re-telling of one of the most important moments in modern human history; mankind’s first steps on the moon. Which is something that I wasn’t even born for, so when I saw that Moon Landing Live was airing, I definitely cleared my schedule since this network is well known for providing its audience with quality and powerful documentaries, and this particular one is no exception to that rule. For this one was moving and inspiring and immersive and really, I am still in awe of this particular documentary a day after it aired, because of the unique way that it told its story.

Because in essence, this documentary uses old footage from NASA and the networks to transport the audience into the days and hours leading up to that historic landing, and the moment in question, and well, this approach works like a charm. Because this feels like any other newscast on any other day, and while the 1960s aesthetic is a tad jarring at first, it doesn’t take long before you find yourself invested in what you’re seeing, thanks in large part to the emotion present in this footage. For the hopes and the dreams of a nation are evident here, as is the awe and wonder of every newscaster reporting on this historic event and once you empathize with what you’re seeing, that’s it, the documentary has you and you cannot look away and that makes the big moment in question, all the more magnificent. 

---

Because I’ve only seen snippets of the landing. So, to see the entire process unfold and watch that cratered surface rush up beneath the lander was breathtaking to say the least. And regardless of the fact that it happened fifty-years ago, seeing the lander touch down on the surface off the moon is a humbling experience, and there were definitely tears in my eyes when Neil Armstrong stepped out of the LEM and set foot on the lunar surface before speaking those powerful words and that’s why this documentary is so incredibly special. Because at last, those who weren’t around to experience the wonder and majesty of this event, finally got their chance and were able to bear witness to the fact that mankind had conquered the dangers of space and walked on the surface of the moon.
​
Yet, there were still more incredible moments to be found in this tale outside of the landing and the subsequent return of the Apollo 11 crew. Because this documentary found a way to look at some of the hot button issues that were hovering over our nation at the time, since racial injustice was an important topic in America in 1969 and an unpopular war was raging overseas and it was important to offer that contrast since it served to remind us of just how far we still have to go as a society, despite the incredible accomplishments we have made. But, it’s important to note that this addition to the documentary isn’t meant to detract from its power, it is instead designed to teach us an important lesson, one that we truly need to heed.

For this documentary more or less makes it clear, that while we do have a long way to go, when we lock ourselves into a goal, one that seems impossible, and dedicate the right resources and time to it, we can achieve it and this landing is proof of that. Because this was era where technology was nowhere near as advanced as it is today, yet, we found a way to touch the heavens and inspire and spread hope in the process, and the message that we need to apply that kind of thinking to our earth-bound problems was not lost upon me and I hope it resonates with others. Either way, this really was an incredible documentary when all is said and done and if you missed it, hunt it down and watch it as quick as you can so that you too can enjoy the power and the majesty of the moment, when mankind visited its lunar neighbor.

---