Computer Analysis Sets NASA History Straight

Ellis D. Tripp writes, "A computer analysis has upheld Neil Armstrong's version of the first words spoken on the lunar surface. The word 'a' was dropped due to a communications glitch, and Armstrong has been accused of flubbing his words since the historic 1969 landing. The corrected statement was 'That's one small step for *A* man, One giant leap for mankind.'"

Good news

[Linker3000]

Well, I am glad that's finally sorted - I've been losing sleep over the issue for years.

*Ahem*

[MyLongNickName]

When stories keep changing, it is a sign of a cover up. Yet more proof that the moon landings were a hoax.
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(now to take bets on whether this gets modded funny or troll)

And in other news...

[techno-vampire]

This just in: computer analysis has revealed that Han Solo did, in fact, shoot first!

Sound Stage?

[MindStalker]

But wasn't it all recorded on a NASA Sound Stage? I mean seriously how are we to believe that such prestine equipment setup for the moon landing would drop the 'a'. //HEHEHE Sorry..

Re:*Ahem*

[ianejames]

mod parent "funny troll"

*A* Computer Analyst?

[Jane_Dozey]

Are you sure that it's "*A* Computer Analyst..." and not just "Computer Analyst..."?

Re:*Ahem*

[HighBit]

mod parent "funny"

Re:*Ahem*

[Anonymous Coward]

The moon landings were faked. Here's some pretty convincing evidence (no really, check it out!)
http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~akapadia/moon.html [dartmouth.edu]

Flubbing the biggest first post of all time....

[Anonymous Coward]

He really meant to plant a goatse.cx flag. :-)

What he really said:

[Tablizer]

Actually he said:

"Ah shit! I pissed my pants!"

because he was so nervous. Remember, he is an engineer, not a spokesman. But it was covered up.
     

I see wide ranging aplications...

[ShagratTheTitleless]

The time is ripe for Slashdot editors to try and convince us that duplicate stories were the result of communications echoes.

NASA Alzheimers

[Tablizer]

First NASA loses Apollo TV master tapes [slashdot.org], and now it loses pronouns. At this rate it will lose a planet within a decade such that we'll have only 8.
         

Oh for crying out loud

[Anonymous Coward]

I was just a kid when this happened, but I do remember it. It was magic.

But I've never understood this fuss about his pronounciation. It seemed perfectly clear to me what he said at the at the time, and it seems perfectly clear on all the endless replays.

In retrospect, I think he should have said "Wow; holy shit!" instead. Then we wouldn't have this endless handwringing overanalysis.

Yes...

[NoseBag]

...I read it somewhere a long time ago and been telling folks this for years - whenever the subject came up.

Now that its been officially reported in /., I can triumphantly wave the printout in peoples' faces and scream, "See! This proves it! Its right here in.....uh...uh..."

Hmm. Never mind.

The Straight Dope

[aktzin]

This story reminded me of a "Straight Dope" article I read years ago regarding something Armstrong allegedly mumbled right after his famous first words on the moon:

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a951117.html [straightdope.com]

While searching for this in the web site's archives I also found an entry from 1990 discussing the "small step for a man" argument:

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_362.html [straightdope.com]

My parents tell me that I actually saw the moon landing, but since I was a baby at the time I really can't comment on what I heard him say.

Re:*Ahem*

[cp.tar]

Wait, let me try... mod parent "flamebait"

/ducks

Re:*Ahem*

[buswolley]

mod parent Ducks

Government vs. commercial

[whyde]

All I can say is thank goodness the first person on the moon wasn't put there by a commercial entity. I'm sure the first words would have been something like, "That's one small step for a man, but a Taco Bell Gordito(tm) is much bigger!"

Either that, or some other government making a political sound bite that promotes a specific ideology or theology instead of something referencing the accomplishments of mankind in general, would have been equally disturbing.

I'm really proud that the folks at NASA took time to plan what would be said, realizing that it would be a historic moment.

Re:And in other news...

[wrook]

Therefore Chewbacca is from Endor, you must acquit.

Re:What he really said:

[Tablizer]

I would be pretty nervous to. Who hasn't had something come out wrong, when they were making a presentation,

Indeed. If they sent me, it probably would have gone down something like this:

That's one sman, uh, that's one step for a small man, I mean one man for a small, I mean one step on a small, I mean one man is a small....Oh fuck! People of Earth, I'm on the goddam fucking moon, okay? And, hey, fuck those ruskies, eh?

Re:And in other news...

[wrook]

Damnit! I *swear* I typed the "if". Must be a communications glitch...

If it happened to day

[Tablizer]

If it happened today, an illegal alien would have stowed aboard, pushed Neil aside, and said it in Spanish:

Ése es un paso pequeño para un hombre, un salto gigante para la humanidad.

Re:*Ahem*

[WilliamSChips]

mod parent insightful

Re:*Ahem*

[Kahless2k]

Would you people stop modding my parents; They're starting to complain.

*ducks*

Greedo

[SeaFox]

Well, I am glad that's finally sorted

Yup, the Moon spoke first! No, wait...

According to the HBO miniseries...

[Ellis D. Tripp]

"From the Earth to the Moon", command module pilot Mike Collins suggested that if Neil "...had any guts, you would say "What the hell is that?!", then scream and cut your mike." :)

Re:Government vs. commercial

[Jugalator]

All I can say is thank goodness the first person on the moon wasn't put there by a commercial entity. I'm sure the first words would have been something like, "That's one small step for a man, but a Taco Bell Gordito(tm) is much bigger!"

Hehe, or "Funding this space program... Billions of your tax dollars... Me walking on the moon... Priceless!" ;-)

I wonder how many that would have upset, heh.

It would have been funnier if it was 'the' instead

[CrazyJim1]

One giant step for 'the' man, one giant leap for mankind.

Re:Government vs. commercial

[windowpain]

The comedian Robert Klein actually did a bit about this. How Armstrong could have made a fortune by selling out before he left Earth and then saying, "COCA-COLA!" as he put his foot out on the moon.

Re:*Ahem*

[DieByWire]

Yet more proof that the moon landings were a hoax.

There's someone you really ought to meet. [csicop.org]

Re:Government vs. commercial

[Lord_Dweomer]

All I can say is thank goodness the first person on the moon wasn't put there by a commercial entity.

Or worse...

"This one small step is made possible by the new Nike Space Jordans. For this lunar cycle only, save 10% off at any major footwear retailer! Over."

Han

[SeaFox]

No, wait...

Armstrong desended the ladder and was about to step on the surface when it was Aldrin that spoke first...

"Wait, Neil! That's no moon..."
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(I know it's not kosher to reply to yourself but I accidentally set this set up with the "No, wait...")

Re:Government vs. commercial

[Toxicgonzo]

At least he stuck to the quote. We all know if he had it his way he'd have been like

"**** YEAH! I'm on the moon BITCHES!"

Re: Well

[camperdave]

Technically, the landing part 'aint really all that hard...

At least it's not supposed to be. Landings should be nice and gentle.

Re:NASA Alzheimers

[gardyloo]

From your diagram, it looks like NASA has just found the 9th planet again.

Re:First Pluto now this.

[wolf369T]

About changing history... I think John Titor is involved here...

The mistake was

[Travoltus]

"one small step for a man..."

it should have been "one small step for a human... one giant leap for humanity."

People laugh at that now, but maybe in a few centuries people will wonder why this mentality persisted for so long.

His REAL first words

[Spackler]

In 1972, Armstrong cleared up his first words were actually:

Holy Shit! I'm on the fscking moon!

Re:Greedo

[Linker3000]

Allegedly, some grumpy old lunar citizen shouted 'get that damn contraption off my lawn!'

Re:Government vs. commercial

[aramael]

I liked the alleged Michael Collins suggestion: "If you had any balls, you'd say 'Oh, my God, what is that thing?' then scream and cut your mic."