Tehran 1969: Apollo 11 Astronauts

Tehran 1969: Apollo 11 Astronauts
by Sepehr
19-Jul-2009
 

This is a photo of the three Apollo 11 Astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins visiting Tehran during their worldwide goodwill tour after they returned to Earth from the moon.

I was an avid astronomy buff and loved everything related to space, astronomy, and space travel. When the astronauts decided to visit the Iranian Crown Jewels display at the Central Bank (Bank Markazi) since my dad worked there, I got a chance to visit with them and someone took this picture of them with me at the age of 12.

They even signed a unique picture of themselves for me which would be worth something today if I had not left it sitting in the window for a few months in direct sunlight and since they had used magic markers, only a trace of their autographs remain.

Neil Armstrong was my hero growing up, and so my dad nudged me towards him to take another photo with him; however, I inadvertently bumped into him instead and he gave me the meanest look I can remember as to say "kid get out of my way". I was quite disappointed as most people are when they meet their heroes. Buzz Aldrin was fun though. With all the recent rememberance and nostalgia about the flight 40 years ago, this photo brought back memories from the good old days in Tehran.

Balatarin
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Sepehr

Another thing

by Sepehr on Mon Jul 20, 2009 04:02 PM PDT

I forgot to write that when I saw Neil Armstrong in person in 1969 he looked like he had aged 50 years from his photos before the moon trip, which made me think space travel had something to do with rapid aging; however, Buzz Aldrin looked really young in comparison, so I don't know if it had to do with being the first human ever setting foot on the moon or not.

ps. another of my favorite astronauts of course is our own Iranian Anousheh Ansari, I am biased since she took our music up in space (:

//spaceblog.xprize.org/2006/09/15/ 

 


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Jahanshah Javid

Abadan

by Jahanshah Javid on Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:52 PM PDT

Thanks Sepehr. I remember there was a public exhibition of the moon rover and photographs from the space mission in my hometown, Abadan, at the National Iranian Oil Company's Annex Building. I even remember, vaguely, watching the moon landing live on TV with my father. It was thrilling. Wonderful achievements like these made us admire the U.S.

If only U.S. foreign policy could lose its militaristic aspect...


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Faramarz

مدولِ ِ ماه نشين و عمه جون ماه جبين

Faramarz
Mon Jul 20, 2009 07:30 AM PDT

Thanks for sharing. A wonderful picture and story

The moon landing was a huge story in Iran and it was carried live on TV. There were also lots of pictures in the evening papers. Everywhere you looked there was a picture of the Moon Landing Module

(مدولِ ِ ماه نشين)

I don't believe that anyone in Iran knew what a module was. But, it became part of the vocabulary

Mr. Roshan Zadeh was the TV announcer who was covering the event and translating what Walter Cronkite was saying. There was a lot of talk about the Moon Landing Module

(مدولِ ِ ماه نشين)

We had one of our neighbors at our house watching the event and he brought along his little daughter. The little girl did not quite understand what all the excitement was about. She sat quietly in front of TV and tried to make sense of it. Finally, she turned to his father and asked

بابا چرا تو تلويزيون همش از عمه جون ماه جبين ميگن


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Aref-Adib

Amazing!

by Aref-Adib on Mon Jul 20, 2009 07:29 AM PDT


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Artificial Intelligence

Very Cool!

by Artificial Intelligence on Sun Jul 19, 2009 07:29 PM PDT

Thanks for sharing!


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Darius Kadivar

A Funny Incident in Space today

by Darius Kadivar on Sun Jul 19, 2009 03:46 PM PDT

Space station toilet breaks down

//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8158350.stm

The main toilet has broken down on the International Space Station (ISS), currently home to a record 13 astronauts, Nasa said.


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Darius Kadivar

FYI/Audio slideshow: Man on the Moon (bbc)

by Darius Kadivar on Sun Jul 19, 2009 03:26 PM PDT

In July 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong's 'giant leap for mankind' was watched by millions of people around the world

//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8152161.stm


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ex programmer craig

Buzz Aldrin

by ex programmer craig on Sun Jul 19, 2009 03:20 PM PDT

Buzz Aldrin was fun though.

Good thing you didn't call him a coward and a liar!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUI36tPKDg4

I agree with you he seems like a fun guy, though! I always try to catch him on the news whenever he is making the rounds. His optimism and his advocacy for space programs is infectious, especially for a sci-fi fan like me :)

 


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bajenaghe naghi

Sepehr jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Sun Jul 19, 2009 03:09 PM PDT

That is a great picture and a lovely personal story.

You were very fortunate to have met these men all at once. Not many people can say that. 


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Darius Kadivar

WOW ... TASHAKOR ! ;0)

by Darius Kadivar on Sun Jul 19, 2009 02:35 PM PDT

Wonderful piece of history.

Thank's Sepehr Jaan. This is A Gem particularly with the Gems on that superb Globe too ;0)

Thank you for sharing this with us on the 40th anniversary indeed.

I was not old enough to remember the landing but my parents told me they did watch it on Iranian TV and everyone was so excited.

Wonderful photo again.

DK


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