FIFTY years ago today, astronauts made one giant leap for mankind by walking on the moon for the first time.
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Back down on Earth the human race waited in anticipation of history being made live on television - and Wagga residents were no different.
A surge of panic filled the city when the moon walk was brought forward to 12.56pm, described in The Daily Advertiser's reports in 1969.
The local television hiring firms were inundated by last minute requests from residents and schools desperate not to miss out on the epic lunar walk.
In other news:
The demand outweighed supply, said the Radio Rentals manager at the time.
"A lot of schools were caught when the telecast was moved forward," Mr N.T Moloney said, in the July 22 report. "And through the afternoon we had dozens of people on the footpaths watching sets in our display window."
The entire San Isidore population missed the magic moment when a "freak power failure" cut off the broadcast at 12.30pm.
"It couldn't have happened at a worse time," said one disappointed resident. "We lost the picture just as they were about to step onto the moon."
To make matters worse, the Southern Riverina County Council's electricity supply truck got bogged down in a soggy paddock as workmen rushed to rectify the fault.
Dennis Blackett was one of the lucky Wagga residents who watched the moon walk in awe, with no dramas.
The "grainy image" and "poor reception" did not detract from the great achievement happening right before his eyes.
Although he recalled the rest of his household's interest did not match his own.
"Our baby had just been born and my wife, who was a speech teacher, had the speech examiner over for lunch and they were discussing the upcoming exams. And I found it a little bit annoying because I wanted to watch the moon landing," Mr Blackett said.
Back to the television, he remembered bursting with anticipation as they "waited and waited" for the astronauts to finally come down the stairs.
But, it was all worth it, after hearing the iconic line of "a one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind".
"That was just amazing and to see the footprint on the ground of the moon," Mr Blackett said.
The Wagga man remembered John F Kennedy's famous speech that started the race to the moon, but many still doubted if the astronauts could actually put it off.
"There is a lot of uncertainty with space, and for them to pull it off was astounding," he said.
"To leave the mothership and go down to the moon, then start the rockets back up to get back up and then come home again. There was great anticipation on if they could do it - and get back, that was the biggest question."
Dr Graeme White, of Wagga, was a "keen astronomer" living in Wollongong at the time of the lunar walk.
The astrophysicist was 19-years-old at the time, living with his parents whom he watched history being made with. The "terrible, shaky black and white pictures," however, had different meanings for him compared to his parents.
As an amateur astronomer the broadcast was "less about the man on the moon", but the geography and geology of the lunar surface.
"Most of that was broadcast from the lunar orbiting the moon, which was far more fascinating to see the craters, valleys and mountains close up," Dr White said.
But his parents, who lived through the Great Depression and World War II, saw Apollo 11 of great political importance - particularly his dad.
"America has to beat the Russians. Neil Armstrong taking that first step was a bit anticlimactic, but it was the game that was important," he said.
The public's interest in space exploration, however, dwindled very quickly - and the broadcast that was once met in awe was replaced with frustration.
Dr White considered this to be one of the many reasons why man has not returned to the moon in 50 years.
Neil Armstrong taking that first step was a bit anticlimactic, but it was the game that was important.
- Graeme White
"The first lunar landing was exciting, but after the third one - which was a major cock up and they nearly lost the crew - there was a tremendous ho hum about it," he said.
"People started complaining that it was replacing their I Love Lucy episode. So, the lack of public interest made it hard to justify continuing the program."
It came as a surprise for the young man when the moon exploration stopped, but now looking back with "a mature, sensible head" he understands there are far easier ways then sending a man up in space.
"Unmanned space vehicle that are AI-controlled can go where no man can go. It can learn what's out there far better than what the human animal can," he said.
"Now China wants to get people back to the moon and America. But, the most expensive way to explore the moon is with a man on it."
In Peter Simpfendorfer's eyes the moon landing could be compared to the Melbourne Cup - in the way it stopped the nation and in this case the world.
The Wagga man was a public servant living in West Dubbo when he sat down with his wife and son, who was less than 12-months old, to watch the live broadcast.
It was a "real rarity" to watch anything live on television five decades ago.
"It is not often people get to watch history being made back in that era - and to see it live," he said.
"Man had that dream for so long and to have a successful attempt - we were just flabbergasted that man had come this far. It was all anyone could talk about the next day.
"It is a story I have told my child and grandchildren many times."
It is not often people get to watch history being made back in that era - and to see it live.
- Peter Simpfendorfer
It was uncertain what the moon was made off before the landing, said Mr Simpfendorfer, who would often joke about it being made of green cheese.
"The one thing we found out when we got up there was that it wasn't made of green cheese after all," he chuckled.
Despite the conspiracies floating about that question man's first steps on the moon, Mr Simpfendorfer said the claims are ridiculous and there was no doubt the moon landing happened.
He is also positive that mankind will one day return to the moon and continue its exploration.
"I don't think even Cecil B DeMille could have faked the moon landing - and he was the guru for the major movies like Ben Hur back then," he said.