Apollo Moon Landing
Garrett Hammons
Apollo 11
On July 16th 1969, Apollo eleven's astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Micheal Collins were the first men to set foot on the Moon. The mission started after Russian space program successfully sent a man into orbit, the U.S joined in and declared they would send men to the moon starting the space race. As Armstrong stepped onto the moon he Stated "One small step for man, One huge leap for mankind," he would from there on be remembered as the first man to step onto the moon.
The U.S Perspective
New York Times a well trusted and respected media outlet was one of the many to report this historic event. The Media seemed to praise the astronauts stating again and again that this is the mark of the century. President Nixon even got into the fray by praising the astronauts saying "For one priceless moment in the whole history of man all the people on this earth are truly one. The media created this perspective by saying what exactly was said and making this event one to remember that all men and women were behind. Many people believed that this would start the age of space exploration and bring peace to earth.
The USSR Perspective
Miles away the country who was once an ally, but now are enemy in the cold war and our rival in the space race creates a different perspective from here in the U.S. The people of the USSR were outraged and ashamed they had failed to beat the U.S many medias in the Soviet union portrayed it as a hoax that it never happened. "Some people tried to pretend the event never occurred, some were insulted" according to Nikita Khrushchev.
The Difference
The Media portrayed these event completely different in the two rivaling countries. both countries were the military and economic power houses after world war 2 and until today. The U.S, the Free republic state was up against the Oppressive, Communist Soviet Union. The two countries hated each other and would be ecstatic to see the other bend to its will. When the Soviet Union successfully sent the first man into space the U.S couldn't stand by and let them own space we stepped in and started the Apollo program amidst the cold war.
Cultural Criticism
There is a major difference in how the U.S reacts to the moon landing and how the Soviet Union. The Russian people hate us and despise us because thats how they have been raised in that time, they have no choice in what they say or do. Those people live in a communist country with no freedom of speech or religion, they couldn't even choose the jobs they had so if the Government there says they hate us the people have to hate us also. While in the U.S americans would try to be the most patriotic person in the country. They hated the Soviets and voted Republican because that party expressed their hate for the Soviet Union.
Today the people now tolerate the once Soviet Union now Russian Government they are seen as an ally. Though the country seems a little sketchy since its president can run for as long as he want but we now see them as a powerful ally.
Historical Criticism
This was a historical moment in the 1960's for men and women alike everyone looked to the U.S as heroes. This can be criticized because one the quality of the video would be different and how people say and talked in the news about the event. The most major change from today would be how we acted today. More than likely we wouldn't see this event as the one to remember from the 21st century. Today we could easily head to the moon a couple times a month with the new advanced technology, back then this would b impossible.
First Moon Landing 1969 (unseen footage)
Citations
Leimapokpam Shivadutta Singh Leimapokpam Shivadutta Singh. (2014). Http://www.iosrphr.org/pages/volume4-issue2(part-2) -.html. Iosrphr IOSR Journal of Pharmacy (IOSRPHR), 04(02), 01-06. doi:10.9790/3013-04020201-06
Das, S. R. (n.d.). The Moon Landing through Soviet Eyes: A Q&A with Sergei Khrushchev, son of former premier Nikita Khrushchev. Retrieved May 02, 2016, from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/apollo-moon-khrushchev/
List of Soviet manned space missions. (n.d.). Retrieved May 02, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Soviet_manned_space_missions