The UK Government has announced that it is looking for people across all four nations to share their memories of the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969.
A selection of the submissions to the crowd-sourced campaign, led by the UK Space Agency and Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) , will be shared with the public on 20 July 2019, marking 50 years since Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon.
The campaign is intended not only to discover first-hand memories but also to explore how the moon landings touched almost every aspect of popular culture, from cinema and art, to literature and music.
For anyone who may not have watched the footage live, there is an opportunity to get involved by sharing their stories about how space exploration has inspired them or led to a career in the sector.
Entries could include a grainy photograph of a family huddled around an early television to watch this iconic moment; a scrapbook of newspaper cuttings from July 1969; or a personal account of how the Moon landing has shaped a work of art or led to a lifelong passion for science fiction.
Science Minister Chris Skidmore said: “Ahead of the 50th Anniversary of the Moon landing, I hope people across the UK share their Moon memories, ranging from photos to diary entries, to help give us a unique and fascinating insight into one of the most celebrated moments in our history.
“Landing on the Moon was unthinkable at the beginning of the twentieth century, so when Neil Armstrong heralded the moment as, ‘one giant leap for mankind,’ those words rightly have echoed through the ages.
“Through our modern Industrial Strategy, we are backing the UK’s thriving space sector so that the young people inspired by this great event of the past will have opportunities to work in the industry’s highly skilled, well-paid jobs of the future.
Tim Peake, astronaut at the European Space Agency (ESA) said: “The 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing was not just a pivotal moment in space exploration, but a defining moment for humanity. Whether you were too young to witness the first footsteps on the Moon, or old enough to see it for yourself, the Moon landing has inspired so many people over the past fifty years.
“I hope that this campaign from the Arts & Humanities Research Council and UK Space Agency will not only help people to reflect on the historic and cultural significance of this anniversary, but also inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and astronauts.”
You can submit your memories and personal stories via moonlandingmemories.com and you are encouraged to share them with social media using the hashtag #MoonMemories.
Memories and stories can be uploaded over the next month, with the submission deadline falling on Tuesday 18 June 2019.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
