 "Astronaut Buzz Aldrin Jr poses for a photograph beside the US flag on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. File image/AP")
“That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind” - These were the first words of American astronaut Neil Armstrong when he first stepped on the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969. Stepping off the lunar module Eagle, Armstrong became the first human to walk on the surface of the moon.
If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers’ ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.
On this day in 2012, a gunman opened fire during a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Colorado’s Aurora killing 12 people. Many consider it to be the deadliest mass shootings in modern US history at the time.
Here is all that happened on this day.
Apollo 11 landed on the moon
Nearly 240,000 miles away from Earth, history was scripted when the Apollo 11 spacecraft landed successfully on the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969. American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to step on the surface of Earth’s biggest natural satellite . Armstrong was accompanied by Buzz Aldrin who walked the surface with him while Michael Collins remained in orbit aboard the Command Module, Columbia.
The journey began four days earlier on July 16, when the mighty Saturn V rocket launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying Commander Neil Armstrong, Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin and Command Module Pilot Michael Collins. After a three-day journey, Apollo 11 entered lunar orbit. On July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin undocked the Eagle from the command module “Columbia,” piloted by Collins, and began their descent. At 20:17 UTC, Armstrong radioed back the now-famous words, “The Eagle has landed.” Nearly seven hours later, he stepped out and declared, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
For over two hours, they explored the landing site, collected 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg) of lunar samples, planted the American flag, and set up scientific experiments. The landing was not without its tense moments. Alarms sounded in the lunar module, indicating computer overload and Armstrong had to manually pilot the craft to avoid a boulder-strewn crater, landing with only about 30 seconds of fuel remaining.
The Moon landing marked the triumphant culmination of the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War . It demonstrated America’s technological superiority and fulfilled President John F Kennedy’s 1961 promise to land a man on the Moon before the decade’s end. Broadcast live on television, an estimated 600 million people around the world watched in awe. The mission not only advanced scientific understanding but also inspired generations to dream beyond Earth.
Mass shooting took place in Colorado’s Aurora
On this day in 2012, the city of Aurora, Colorado, became the scene of a horrific mass shooting inside a Century 16 movie theater. During a midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises,” 24-year-old James Eagan Holmes opened fire on the unsuspecting audience, killing 12 people and injuring 70 others.
Dressed in tactical gear and a gas mask, Holmes first set off tear gas grenades before unleashing a barrage of gunfire with multiple firearms, including an AR-15 rifle, a shotgun and handguns. The chaos and terror that ensued were unimaginable, with many moviegoers initially mistaking the attack for part of the film’s special effects or a publicity stunt.
Police apprehended Holmes outside the theater minutes later. He offered no resistance and told officers he was “The Joker,” referencing the Batman villain. His trial began in 2015, and despite pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, he was convicted on all 165 counts and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
The shooting sparked national mourning and reignited urgent debates around gun control, mental health, and public safety. Then- President Barack Obama visited Aurora shortly after the attack, meeting with victims and families and offering condolences on behalf of the nation.
Memorials were held across the US as Americans grappled with yet another senseless act of violence. The city of Aurora later opened a permanent memorial garden to honour the victims and promote healing.
This Day, That Year
On this day in 1976, The Viking 1 lander touched down at Chryse Planitia on Mars.
In 1944, German military leaders attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler in the July Plot.
The Siege of Pleven began in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78 on this day in 1877.
With inputs from agencies