Letter from the Moon

Mission Control, The surface is fine and powdery. I can pick it up loosely with my toe. It adheres in fine layers like powdered charcoal to the sole and sides of my boots. I only go in a small fraction of an inch, maybe an eighth of an inch, but I can see the footprints of my boots and the treads in the fine sandy particles. There seems to be no difficulty in moving around as we suspected. It's perhaps even easier than the simulations at one-sixth gravity. The descent engine did not leave a crater of any size. It has about one foot clearance on the ground. We're essentially on a very level place here. I can see footprints of Buzz and myself in the powdered, sandy surface. Looking up at the Earth from here is an indescribable sight. Our planet hangs in the black void like a beautiful blue and white marble. From this vantage point, the conflicts and differences that divide us seem petty and insignificant. We have collected rock samples and deployed the American flag. The flag does not wave, of course, as there is no atmosphere, but it stands as a symbol of our achievement and, I hope, of all humankind's potential. I am humbled to be here and to represent not just America but all people in this historic moment. When we return, we will bring with us not just lunar samples but a new perspective on our place in the universe. This has been one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. Neil Armstrong Commander, Apollo 11