[nobe-l] Corrected First Draft of Story

[Tina Hansen]

The draft I just sent out to you had a few horrible typos, so I'm sending a
correcgted version to the list for everyone to look at. Please delet the
last draft.

 

Have you ever been issued a challenge? If so, how did you respond to it? Did
you run and hide? Did you find a way to meet it?

 

In 1961, Russia was the first country to send a man into space. Our country
was used to being first at everything, but when Russia launched the first
man into space, we didn't like it. Our president felt it was time to do
something about it.

 

In May of 1961, President John Kenedy issued this challenge: I believe that
this nation should commit itself to landing a man on the moon and returning
him safely before this decade is out.

 

Our country jumped to the challenge.

 

If you've ever been challenged with a big goal, you know that you need to
get there in baby steps. This is where Mercury and Gemini came in. These
programs helped find ways to get to the moon. They perfected techniques for
getting one spacecraft to join with another and meet each other in orbit.

 

Finally, on July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 lifted off with Neil Armstrong, Buzz
Aldrin and Michael Collins on their way to the moon. Their command ship was
named Columbia, and their lunar landing craft was named Eagle.

 

On July 20, 1969, their two craft separated as Neil Armstrong and Buzz
Aldrin began their exploration of the moon's surface. Mike Collins orbited
above them in Columbia.

 

After preparing their ship, Neil and Buzz began to descend to the moon's
surface. Unfortunately, their onboard computer, which was far less powerful
than your smart phone, but was the best technology of the day, was taking
them to a place they didn't want to go. Neil took over flying the craft.

 

But they were getting low on fuel. Mission Control in Houston warned them of
this, so they did their best to land before their fuel run out.

 

Luckily, they made it. When the craft landed, Neil said, "Tranquility Base
here, the Eagle has landed. Everyone was happy, but this was only the
beginning.

 

Several hours later, the astronauts got ready to explore the moon's surface.
Neil Armstrong made the first step, and made history when he said, "That's
one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."

 

Within a half hour, Buzz followed. He described what they saw as
"Magnificent desolation."

 

Their exploration lasted for 2 and a half hours, but then it was time to get
back in the landing craft.

 

The next day, Eagle rejoined Columbia. Three days later, the explorers
returned home, and the first mission to the moon was successful.

 

 

As I stated, my team and I will be having this pre-recorded in order to get
it timed right and to let the students hear actual quotes from the mission
instead of us trying to narrate them

 

I know this draft is not perfect, so if anyone has suggestions on how I
might improve on it, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.