Sparky

The first Apollo moon landing was not televised live. Instead a seventeen minute delay was implemented to avoid any potentially embarrassing incidents. It has long been rumoured that the voice of Neil Armstrong was replaced by the voice of an actor — possibly Mel Blanc. What did Astronaut Armstrong say and why was it necessary to suppress his words?

When I was five my parents gave me a puppy. I grew up with it and was very sad when he suddenly died the day after my eleventh birthday. I was sure it was because I fed him too much cake. So I dedicate these first small steps to Sparky. I am sure that I can look down to earth and pinpoint the exact spot of his grave, somewhere in our backyard. I can imagine Sparky up here now, in a little doggy space suit and I wish we had brought along a frisbee.