'Poetry under siege by rockets': A case study of the creative and critical coverage by the New York Times of the 1969 Apollo 11 moonwalk.

Abstract

The first edition of the New York Times published after the Apollo 11 astronauts walked on the moon (21 July 1969) is an extraordinary artefact of creative experimentation in reporting on a major scientific event. The Times published poems and artworks critical of the moon landing, and showcased first-person perspectives from public figures who expressed misgivings about space exploration, yet the 50th anniversary commemorations of Apollo 11 (in 2019) overlooked this unusual example of science reporting. This article is a case study and close reading of that Times issue, aiming to bring those alternate responses - long buried in the archives - back into view as instances of resistance to spacefaring. It also serves as an inspirational reminder that the New York Times opened up the form and style of its science reporting in 1969 to include diverse voices and opinions, thus deepening and enriching public understanding of a significant scientific event.