The great promise of President Kennedy’s goal to put a man on the moon, and what the great future in space would lead to, has been tarnished over the years. The ‘giant leap’ of the first moonwalk was lessened by numerous advances in technology, but very little in terms of getting man into space.  Winning the Cold War may have usurped any need to beat other nations to it, however Mars seems as far away as ever. Many still dispute the fact that the moon trip was real, however Myth Busters have recently made it clear that everything lined up.  So, on the 40th anniversary (today) the Apollo landing comes with a mixed bag of memories.

Still, the nostalgia is palpable, the visuals alone lending to a wave of emotions that keep the entire world rapt, like it was only yesterday.  Most of us were too young or not even born, but the Telegraph has a few tidbits that weren’t the kind usually reported:

As the Eagle landing module was descending towards the Moon’s surface, Armstrong and Aldrin realised they had overshot the intended landing spot by miles and were heading for an area strewn with boulders. In manoeuvring to avoid hitting the rocks, they came to within a minute of running out of fuel for the descent and having to abort the mission.

Neil Armstrong may have been the first man to walk on the Moon, but Buzz Aldrin was the first man to urinate there. While millions watched on live television, Aldrin relieved himself a tube fitted inside his space suit.

After returning to the landing module, Aldrin accidentally broke the switch used to activate the ascent engines. After initial concern they managed to activate the switch using a ball-point pen.

The promise of the Space Age may not be a reality. Jet packs are not looking likely in the near future, nor are condos on the moon. But there could be some new exploration in the near future, as it seems that the residents of Planet Earth are seeking a new future, and a new place to vacation.

Here’s what you might want to bring along:

The Ultimate Accessory for Space Travel