On this date 50 years ago (July 16, 1969), the Apollo 11 mission lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida.
Four days later the Lunar Module Eagle touched down on the Moon's surface. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the surface of another celestial body, while Michael Collins orbited in the Command Module Columbia above.
I'd like mark the occasion by sharing just a few tidbits I've come across over the years about Apollo program, and this mission in particular. I'm a pretty big science geek, but its the sheer collective will behind such a venture that moves me more than anything else.
Links
Experience Apollo 11 in Real-time
NASA's restored Apollo-era Mission Control
Apollo 11's Hidden Hero: Software
Original Apollo 11 Guidance Computer (AGC) source code
Article about AGC code above
Inside the AGC core memory
3-D exploration of the Apollo 11 CM
Apollo Guidance Computer restoration
Virtual AGC webpage
Wikipedia article on Apollo 11
Videos
Bonus - Apollo 13 (Movie) Launch