International Moon Day 2023: History, Significance, and Other Details

International Moon Day 2023: History, Significance, and Other Details

International Moon Day (IMD) manifests on an annual basis on July 20 to commemorate the day that humans first stepped foot on the moon. The landing of humans on the moon is still recognized as one of the human race’s most significant achievements.

Why is It Called International Moon Day?

A day designated aside every year to honor the Moon, the sole natural satellite of the Earth, is known as International Moon Day! Every year, it takes place on July 20th, the anniversary of the day in 1969 when astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong made history by walking on the moon. Since the Apollo 11 mission is still regarded as one of humanity’s greatest accomplishments, International Moon Day is dedicated to remembering the mission and educating people about the Moon and astronomy.

International Moon Day- Importance:

• In its resolution 76/76 on “International cooperation in the peaceful uses of Outer space” in 2021, the General Assembly recognized July 20 as International Moon Day, a United Nations-approved International Event.
• International Moon Day commemorates the first docking that humans stepped down on the Moon, which occurred during the Apollo 11 Lunar Mission.
• The celebrations will also recognize the achievements of all States in lunar exploration and raise public awareness of lunar exploration and use that is environmentally sustainable.

International Moon Day- History:

• President John F. Kennedy had set the lofty goal of sending a man to the moon by the end of the 1960s eight years prior.
• On July 20, 1969, American astronauts Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin and Neil Armstrong created history by being the first people to set footprints on the moon.
• President Kennedy made an appeal to a special joint session of Congress in 1961, saying, “I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth.” This gave rise to the idea of the mission to send astronauts to the moon.
• Kennedy’s plan was well received because it came at a period when the United States and the Soviet Union were still competing for space exploration developments due to the Cold War.
• After five years of hard labor by its worldwide team of engineers and scientists, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA; launched the first unmanned Apollo Mission. The first mission functioned as a testing phase for the launch spacecraft vehicle’s structural toughness.
• On July 16, 1969, at 9:32 a.m., three astronauts aboard Apollo 11 lifted out from the Kennedy Space Centre. The mission’s leader was Neil Armstrong. After three days, on July 19, the spacecraft inserted itself into lunar orbit.
• The following day, Armstrong and Aldrin’s lunar module, Eagle, separated from the main command module. Armstrong radioed Mission Control in Houston, Texas to announce the historic event when Eagle landed on the moon: “The Eagle has landed.”
• Armstrong left the lunar module and down its ladder at 10:39 p.m. A television camera mounted on the module was broadcasting signals back to Earth, where the entire world was anxiously awaiting news of his progress.
• Armstrong landed on the moon at 10:56 p.m. and spoke the immortal phrase, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”