How the Moon landing inspired a generation of UK industry

Buzz Aldrin's footprint on the Moon in 1969
Buzz Aldrin's footprint on the Moon in 1969

Hundreds of people across the UK have shared their memories, photos and scrapbooks for a special compilation to mark 50 years since the Apollo Moon landing in 1969.

People across the UK have shared their memories, photos and scrapbooks for a special compilation to mark 50 years since the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969.


The public were asked to share their memories of the Moon landings and describe how Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins’s achievement had inspired them.

Memories include many whose experience of the Moon landing led to science and space industry careers.

Fifty of the submissions have been curated into a digital scrapbook and a selection of the best entries will also go on display at the National Space Centre in Leicester as part of its ‘One Giant Leap’ programme of events.

The Moon Landing Memories campaign was organised by the UK Space Agency and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation.


Science Minister Chris Skidmore said: “These memories of the first Moon landing bring to life the magic of that iconic moment. They clearly show why some of the children who watched live in 1969 were inspired to become the engineers and scientists that are now building our thriving space industry in the UK.

“To retain our status as one of the world leaders in the new space age, we need the next generation to follow in their footsteps and our modern Industrial Strategy is backing the industry to create these highly skilled, well-paid space jobs for the future.”

Tim Peake, astronaut at the European Space Agency (ESA) said: “Thank you to all those who took part in the Moon Landing Memories campaign. The Apollo 11 lunar landing was humanity’s most audacious mission and our greatest achievement.

“It is no surprise that for those who watched it live, and for those who were born into a world where humans had already walked on the Moon, it remains a source of inspiration and wonder.

“As we reflect on past achievements and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing, we must also look to the future as we embark on a new era of space exploration to the Moon, Mars and beyond.”

One respondent wrote: "The Moon landings inspired me but I have always wanted to work in the space industry. As a boy I drew pictures of rockets and made models. I lived in Bournemouth near the Isle of Wight where secret tests on the engines for Black Knight were tested.

"Later I worked at Woomera and drove past the actual launch site every day. I worked on the Skylark Sounding rocket, the unsung hero launch vehicle of the U.K. Space programme. Skylark was designed in 1957 for the International Geophysical Year and launches were still being carried out 50 years later. Later I worked on satellites, attending our launch preparations at 17B Cape Canaveral then to mission control for launch and IOT."

A compilation of photos from Apollo 11, 1969

On 16th July 1969, the huge, 363ft Saturn V rocket launches the Apollo 11 mission

Footage of Neil Armstrong’s 'small step'

Buzz Aldrin on the Moon

The Apollo 11 Lunar Module "Eagle"

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