Remarkable

"Apollo 11 - landing on the moon"

"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind" - Neil Armstrong -   Apollo departed earth on July 16, 1969. The whole Apollo-project is to be seen in the light of the desire of President John F. Kennedy to place a man on the moon before the end of the sixties. The crew of Apollo 11 were astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin ("Buzz") E. Aldrin.   The launch of the Apollo 11 carried by a Saturn V-missile (photo: NASA - released in public domain)   Apollo 11 flew behind the moon on July 19. The astronauts saw their landing place, picked in advance, after 30 orbits around the moon. The Moon Lander separated itself from the command module on July 20, and landed on the moon at 20:17 (UCT) (UCT means Coordinated Universal Time). The name of the Moon Lander was Eagle. Billons of people worldwide were glued to their TV screens.   Picture of the Eagle after separating command module. (photo: NASA - released in public domain)     Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon – July 21 at 02:56 UTC. He then spoke the famous words already mentioned above. Aldrin stepped on the moon 20 minutes after him.   The American flag was placed, together with scientific instruments. (photo: NASA - released in public domain)     What has this to do with God’s name? Well, it is a lesser known fact that the astronauts also had a disc with them, made of silicon. This disc was the size of a 50 cent piece and was placed in an aluminum capsule. The disc was left behind on the moon, in the 'Sea of Tranquility'. On the disc were messages from world leaders of 73 countries. The image was first photographed and then reduced 200 times. The text can be read by using a microscope. The silicon disc (photo: NASA - released in public domain)         Included therein was a message from the Vatican:   "Jahweh our Lord, how great your name throughout the earth, above the heavens is your majesty chanted. "By the mouths of children, babes in arms, you set your stronghold firm against your foes to subdue enemies and rebels. "I look up at your heavens, made by your fingers, at the moon and stars you set in place. "Ah, what is man that you should spare a thought for him? Or the son of man that you should care for him? "You have made him a little less than an angel, you have crowned him with glory and splendor, and you have made him lord over the work of your hand. "You set all things under his feet, sheep and oxen all these, yes, wild animals too, birds in the air, fish in the sea traveling the paths of the ocean. "Jahweh our Lord, how great your name throughout the earth! Psalms 8 To the glory of the name of God who gives such power to men, we ardently pray for this wonderful beginning.   Paul VI, Pope

 

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