Apollo 11 - The only Greek correspondent remembers...

At the age of 26 he was the only Greek correspondent to cover the mission of Apollo 11. A stone's throw away from the launch of the missile, which carried the first humans to the surface of the moon. 50 years later, Dionysios Simopoulos remembers and shares with SBS Greek, these cosmopolitan moments.

D. Simopoulos at Apollo 11 launch, 16.6.1969. Source: Supplied

Dionysios Simopoulos, in a very random way, at late 68s, a man by the Greek Consulate in New Orleans informed him that a newspaper in Athens was looking for someone like him to cover the space missions. He was then a sub-director of education at the Planetarium in Louisiana. He accepted the challenge. After covering Apollo 9 and 10 missions, the time came for him to witness the historic mission "Apollo 11".

Ανταπόκριση σε Ελληνική εφημερίδα Source: Dionysios Simopoulos (FB)

At the Kennedy Space Center he arrived on the eve of the launch, and the first thing he did was to ask NASA's public relations if there were other accredited Greek journalists to watch this historic launch. He did not find anyone. He was the only Greek.

At the dawn of July 16, 1968, NASA officers guided them to the premises where the rocket Saturn V was ready to launch, and immediately after into the building where the astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin would start to embarking on their spaceship. They then moved them safely, about 5 kilometers away, from where they watched the launch.

Cape Canaveral 16.7.1969 Source: Dionysios Simopoulos (FB)

Previous photo shows the launch of Apollo 11 at 9:32 am local time, (Eastern Time USA). At the bottom of the missile, fire is slightly apparent. A total of 3,493 press representatives from the US and 55 other countries attended the launch. Dionysis Simopoulos, among them.

He first saw the flames and after 14 seconds of silence, the sound was heard. A shrill sound that trampled the platform and shaken his whole body, as he remembers. The hopes, but also the fears that were given birth by that unique moment. For all mankind.

At Houston with Astronaut's Michael Collins children Source: Dionysios Simopoulos (FB)

In Houston with the children of astronaut Michael Collins. Followed by a selfie outside the NASA's Houston Space Center shortly before the arrival of Apollo 11 on the Moon in the early hours of July 19, 1969.

D. Simopoulos at Houston, NASA. Source: Dionysios Simopoulos (FB)

We asked Mr. Simopoulos if he wanted to be in the position of the first man who stepped on the moon. Just what he answered, you can listen, by tapping play on the podcast attached to the first - top photo.

"Από τα Ψηλαλώνια στο Φεγγάρι" Source: Dionysios Simopoulos (FB)

This podcast is only available in Greek.

Dionysis Simopoulos is the Eugenides Planetarium's director emeritus who excelled as an astronomy educator and science populariser in the print and electronic media of Greece. He is married, with a daughter, two sons and grandchildren.