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*NEW* 50 Years: To The Moon and Back

50 Years - To The Moon and Back. Neil Delamere is investigating the relationship between ancient man and the moon Image Name: 50 Years - To The Moon and Back. Neil Delamere is investigating the relationship between ancient man and the moon
50 Years - To The Moon and Back. Jack L at the Giant's Causeway Image Name: 50 Years - To The Moon and Back. Jack L at the Giant's Causeway
50 Years - To The Moon and Back. Filming the moon at Dunsink Obversatory Image Name: 50 Years - To The Moon and Back. Filming the moon at Dunsink Obversatory
50 Years - To The Moon and Back. Claire Molloy prepares for Zero Gravity Flight Image Name: 50 Years - To The Moon and Back. Claire Molloy prepares for Zero Gravity Flight
50 Years - To The Moon and Back. Claire Molloy before her Zero Gravity flight at the European Space Agency Bordeaux Image Name: 50 Years - To The Moon and Back. Claire Molloy before her Zero Gravity flight at the European Space Agency Bordeaux
50 Years - To The Moon and Back. Brian Kennedy at IMMA in Dublin Image Name: 50 Years - To The Moon and Back. Brian Kennedy at IMMA in Dublin
50 Years - To The Moon and Back. Apollo satellite dish in Madrid Image Name: 50 Years - To The Moon and Back. Apollo satellite dish in Madrid

Presented by Áine Lawlor in front of a live studio audience, RTÉ One will commemorate 50 years since the first moon landing from CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory in Cork. This 90 minute programme will bring audiences on a journey to relive the moment that changed our world forever, as Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon.

From our own mission control room, we’ll have legendary space correspondent Leo Enright and a panel of experts including astronaut Cady Coleman who will detail the multiple unforeseen dangers encountered by Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong on their eight day voyage.

The programme will highlight the unique Irish contribution to space exploration from the Earl of Ross’s Leviathan telescope to the calculations provided by mathematician Pat Norris – that not only changed Apollo’s lunar trajectory – but the entire course of history. We’ll also hear from Irish astrophysicists working at NASA Goddard and finding out how we might now travel to and live on the moon.

Alongside space inspired artworks, there will be a unique musical collaboration between space and numerous locations around Ireland as some of Ireland’s favourite musicians sing with astronaut Chris Hadfield.

Where were you when we landed on the moon? Anne Doyle, Eilish O’Carroll and Fr Brian D’Arcy to take us back to 20 July 1969 with their memories of the moon landing. We’ll also have archive film to capture a technological and cultural snapshot of life in 1960s Ireland.