Times Supplement 7 August 1969

Times Supplement 7 August 1969

A supplement from The Times from 7 August 1969 titled “The lunar odyssey.” The eight-page supplement tells the story of Apollo 11. The front and back have colour images of Buzz Aldrin on the lunar surface and throughout there are black and white images of the mission and the astronauts themselves.

The first article gives a detailed account of the mission, taking the reader through launch, the journey to the Moon, landing on the Moon, taking off again and returning to Earth. The article contains sections of dialogue between the astronauts and mission control, which gives Neil Armstrong’s impressions of the Moon following his famous first words.

This is followed by an article that explores NASA’s control over the public image of astronauts as the embodiment of the American dream. The idea that astronauts were born to be exceptional and are somehow different from everyone is discouraged by NASA, according to the article. Instead emphasis is placed on the fact they are family men, who enjoy pursuits like golf and fishing, and whose achievements may be emulated by anyone with the right attitude. The article is critical of the NASA approved “bland coverage” provided by Time and Life magazines who had sole access to the astronauts’ personal stories, hinting there is likely more interesting stories behind this facade.