Neil Armstrong on the moon's surface
Photo credit - NASA
Neil Armstrong had a secret. As commander of the Apollo 11 lunar module, on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong was the first person to set foot on the moon. His first words after stepping on the moon, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," were televised to earth and heard by millions. But, just before he re-entered the lunar module, he made the egnimatic remark, "Good luck, Mr. Gorsky!"
Many people at NASA thought it was a casual remark concerning some rival Soviet cosmonaut. However, upon checking, there was no Gorsky in either the Russian or American space programs.
Over the years, many people questioned Armstrong as to what the "Good luck, Mr. Gorsky!" statement meant, but he always just smiled, not answering the question.
On July 5th, 1995, in Tampa Bay, Florida, while answering questions following a speech, a reporter brought up the 26 year old question to Armstrong. This time he finally responded. Mr. Gorsky has passed, so Neil felt he could now answer the question.
In 1938, when he was a small kid in a mid-west town, he was playing baseball with a friend in his backyard. His friend hit the ball which landed in his neighbour's yard, by their bedroom window. His neighbours were Mr. and Mrs. Gorsky.
As he leaned down to pick up the ball, young Armstrong heard Mrs. Gorsky shouting at Mr. Gorsky.
"Sex? You want sex? You'll get sex when the kid next door walks on the moon!"
Neil Armstrong's footprint on the moon's surface
Photo credit - NASA
Comments (8)
Interesting post Brenda. I enjoy these odd bits of information.
Posted by kendall | May 16, 2009 2:49 PM
Posted on May 16, 2009 14:49
Me, too, Kendall!
I had no idea about this comment, until I read this funny story.
Very interesting, very interesting!
Posted by Brenda | May 16, 2009 2:54 PM
Posted on May 16, 2009 14:54
Love the 'useless' bit of information. Isn't it funny what we remember! LOL
Posted by Jerry | May 16, 2009 7:19 PM
Posted on May 16, 2009 19:19
Jerry,
I love these kinds of remote nuggets of information! I never knew he said anything about the guy!
Posted by Brenda | May 16, 2009 7:38 PM
Posted on May 16, 2009 19:38
I LOVE THIS STORY!! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!
Posted by Diana Strinati Baur | May 17, 2009 7:14 AM
Posted on May 17, 2009 07:14
Diana,
Cool, huh?
I laughed so much when I read this story. Imagine Neil Armstrong keeping that secret for years in order to protect the people involved. A very kind man in this era of tell-all celebrities.
Posted by Brenda | May 17, 2009 10:11 AM
Posted on May 17, 2009 10:11
Is this really true? Very cool!!
Posted by girasoli | May 17, 2009 6:13 PM
Posted on May 17, 2009 18:13
girasole,
I think it's true. I received it as an e-mail and thought it was so cool that I had to share it. If it isn't true, it is still a funny story!
Posted by Brenda | May 17, 2009 11:38 PM
Posted on May 17, 2009 23:38