It’s hard to believe that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 mission to the moon. At the time, my family was living in Dallas, Texas. July 20th, 1969 was an exceptionally hot day, but I was outside playing basketball in the driveway and admiring my cousin’s new Chevrolet Z28 Camaro. My dad told us to come in and watch the moon landing live on television. The technology necessary to broadcast images in real time from 238,900 miles away was leading edge. We were thrilled to be able to watch such a critical moment in history.
The Story
Launching from Cape Kennedy on July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 carried a 3 man crew to the moon. The passengers included Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin. Their mission was to collect surface materials and take extensive photographs of the lunar landscape, equipment, and each other. However, these astronauts did much more than collect scientific samples.
Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon. As a result, he completed a goal set by President John F. Kennedy 8 years prior, establishing “national preeminence over rival nations”. As our country was dealing with the Cold War crisis, this monumental culmination of years of hard work and research “[accomplished] the political goals for which it was created.” An estimated 530 million people (including me) watched Armstrong take “…one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind”.
It was truly an incredible experience to watch and to be a part of. Every time I see Raymond Loewy’s Moon Landing, I am reminded of that time in history when everything seemed possible and new worlds were opening up. Similarly, I hope this incredible piece will bring you inspiration as well.
Concepts as Art: Moon Landing
Artists in the 1900s drew out their design ideas for presentation, much like today’s artists conceptualize on computers. When Loewy’s designs became famous as real-life applications, these drawings became valuable themselves. We have several copies of the Moon Landing concept, each signed and approved by Loewy himself. Having a reminder of this historic event to serve as a reminder of the strength and prowess of American innovation will spark inspiration. Visit the Moon Landing product page to purchase your own Loewy design today!
