The
Houston Chronicle is reporting that an Australian based programmer has found the 'missing "a"' in Neil Armstrong's famous line: "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.
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Astronaut Neil Armstrong's first words from the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969, now can be confidently recast, according to the research, as, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."
It is the more dramatic and grammatically correct phrasing that Armstrong, now 76, has often said was the version he transmitted to NASA's Mission Control for broadcast to worldwide television.
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Fascinating article - I remember listening intently to Armstrong's words as he set foot on the moon,... and I remember all the ensuing controversy over what folks heard as opposed to how it was meant to be heard and whether Neil had actually made one of the worst goofs of all time, considering the import of the whole idea of humans first setting foot upon an extraterrestial body.
This programmer downloaded and analyzed the original transmission from the moon to NASA. His conclusions are making Armstrong happier I'll bet since Neil has always insisted that he thought he said it right the first time.
Quote:
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"It was meant for all mankind, and it's important to have it correct," Hansen said of the phrase. "It's a concise, eloquent statement for the ages at a unique milestone for our species."
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Can't think of anything that says it better!
