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From: marty@puppsr.Princeton.EDU (Marty Ryba)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: Controversy
Message-ID: <6116@idunno.Princeton.EDU>
Date: 9 Feb 91 15:16:14 GMT
References: <1991Feb9.064442.6737@ee.ualberta.ca>
Sender: news@idunno.Princeton.EDU
Reply-To: marty@pulsar.princeton.edu
Organization: Dept. of Physics, Princeton U.
Lines: 22

In article <1991Feb9.064442.6737@ee.ualberta.ca>, tanaka@ee.ualberta.ca (Craig Tanaka) writes:
|> 
|> A friend and I are having an argument over the pictures of the first steps
|> upon the Moon.  I was wondering if someone could clarify whether or not
|> it was taken by a remote camera or was restaged afterwards.  (the video of
|> Armstrong jumping off the ladder on the descent module down to the surface.)
|> I am sure that questions such as this have been asked many times, and for
|> that I apologize, but if someone could help me out, I would be very
|> grateful.

Simple answer: the shot of an astronaut climbing down from the ladder as
seen from about 30' from the lander was taken by Neil Armstrong and showed
Buzz Aldrin stepping out.  The 'one small step' video is the (less seen)
shot from the lander hatch that mostly shows Armstrong's head.
Since the later video is more photogenic, it is more often used and often
has Armstrong's words juxtaposed on it, leading to the confusion.

-- 
Marty Ryba                      | slave physics grad student
Princeton University            | They don't care if I exist,
Pulsars   Unlimited             | let alone what my opinions are!
marty@pulsar.princeton.edu      | Asbestos gloves always on when reading mail