events 2009

Czech astronauts experts talk about the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon. Photo Michal Štichauer

Apollo 11: Once Upon a Time on the Moon

June 21, 2009

On Thursday, the 16th of July, leading Czech astronaut experts launched a series of commemorative events marking the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon, held at the American Center. 

Tomáš Přibyl described the importance of the Apollo space program, accompanied by images from of outer space. Publicist Karel Pacner mentioned how in July 1969 he traveled with Czech Radio correspondent Jiří Diensbier to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Mr. Pacner at that time covered the start of the Apollo mission for the daily “Mladá Fronta.” 

Astronaut expert Antonín Vítek described the difficulties Czechoslovak Television faced in broadcasting the Apollo 11 landing on the Moon. Mr. Vítek also mentioned how he had traveled around Czechoslovakia in the early 1970s with documentaries on Apollo 11 borrowed from the US Embassy in Prague. The director of the Czech Cosmic Office, Jan Kolář, was hopeful that man will be back on the Moon in the very near future.

The American Center continues its display of historical documents from the Apollo 11 mission, as well as descriptions of Saturn 5 rockets, astronauts’ menus, and their customs declarations. There are also documentaries and movies with related themes being screened at the American Center. 

The highlight of our “space summer” at the American Center will be a discussion under the stars with the U.S. astronaut Dr. Andrew Feustel and his wife Indira. For more information, please click here.

Related links:

• Apollo 40th Anniversary (NASA website)
• Apollo 11 (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum website) 
• One Giant Leap (Smithonian Magazine) 
• Neil. A. Armstrong – Mission Commander of Apollo 11