"To the MOON, Alice!"

Contributed by Elizabeth.Allen@jacobs.com

Someone heard this story on the radio.
It is purported to be true.
However, I doubt it.
If so, it's a great story.

In order not to offend the public's sensibilities, which were a little more conservative in 1969, NASA instituted a 15 second delay between the time they received audio and visual transmissions from the moon, and the time that these signals were broadcast to the networks. This was done in case Neil Armstrong ran into a problem and used profanity, they would have time to cut out what was said.

After stepping onto the surface of the moon, and saying the now famous "that's one small step for man'" Neil supposedly said "good luck, Mr. Groaznyk." NASA censored this. However, several reporters were aware of the statement, and after returning to earth, Armstrong was asked many times what the comment was in reference to. He repeatedly declined to comment.

Years later, Armstrong was again asked to explain his comment. He thought for a moment, and said that since Mr. and Mrs. Groaznyk were now long deceased, he would explain. It seems the Groaznyk's were Neil's next-door neighbors when he was growing up in Ohio.

One summer evening, Neil and his brother were playing catch in their backyard. The ball went over Neil's head and into the Groaznyk's backyard. Neil went into their yard to get the ball, and through an open window overheard Mrs. Groaznyk exclaiming to her husband : "Blow job! You'll get a blow job when that kid next door walks on the moon!"