Comments on: What Neil Armstrong Meant To Say

By: Slippy Lane

Slippy Lane — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:48:40 +0000

There is still much debate over this. Armstrong has always maintained that he said “One small step for a man” both times, but that his own drawl, combined with the low-power incredible-distance transmission left the ‘a’ completely indistinguishable. I say “who cares?” the guy was on the frickin’ MOON!

By: Mike D

Mike D — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:13:06 +0000

I think that misses the analogy Just. the whole point is that a small step by a single man (what actually happened) constituted a giant leap for the entirety of human kind (what figuratively happened). Without the ‘a’ the line reads “one small step for mankind, one giant leap for man kind”

By: Justwords77

Justwords77 — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:21:19 +0000

Seriously? Does it really matter? Personally, I think the line’s connontation without the a is more all encompassing and refers to all of humankind, not just Neil Armstrong, the way it should be.

If Armstrong wants to beat himself up over whether or not he said “a man,” instead of recognizing the importance of his accomplishment, then damn, man, do it. But I think it’s sad to dwell on such a minor, minor issue when he had just changed the whole world with one step.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:58:14 +0000

Nice! wkjiii, Nice!

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:43:05 +0000

Seeing this post reminded me of an article that I read a while ago about a researcher who claims to have found the missing ‘a.’ I can’t post the link but if you search “armstrong missing word found” several articles discussing it come up.

By: septer

septer — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:42:50 +0000

JohnnyCat, I thought the same thing.

By: wkjiii

wkjiii — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:41:02 +0000

What Neil Armstrong actually said:
“Thats one small step for man, one giant leap for Mel Klein.” Why? Armstrong and Klien were fellow astronauts in training and lived in a thin walled BOQ. Armstrong frequently overheard Klein begging his wife for oral sex and her reply was always the same. “When they walk on the moon, Mel. When they walk on the moon.”

By: SpaceMonkeyX

SpaceMonkeyX — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:07:40 +0000

I’d say you’re right Boggy Creek Creature (Did I really just say that?), it definitely defines human existence. “Yeah, you flew up to the moon, but you screwed up your line. EPIC FAIL!” We’re all a bunch of jerks…

By: Johnny Cat

Johnny Cat — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 03:46:24 +0000

Regardless of the “a” he did an excellent job, and growing up hearing that phrase, I came to love the mystique of it. I didn’t know grammar at age 10, but I knew what he meant.

And, yeah I heard your basic cell phone from 2004 had more computing power than the CM had in 1969.

By: Boggy Creek Creature

Boggy Creek Creature — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 23:53:50 +0000

I think the entirety of human existence can be explained and defined by that story. You send three people all the way to the moon in a big can powered by all the technology found in the calculator you get free at the bank.
and somebody’s still going to flub a line.

I’d be more afraid that the capsule wouldn’t fire up again, rather than the script, though. Can’t blame the man.