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The Latest: Armstrong's restored spacesuit goes on display

4 years 9 months 2 weeks ago Tuesday, July 16 2019 Jul 16, 2019 July 16, 2019 8:46 AM July 16, 2019 in News - AP Texas Headlines

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - The Latest on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing (all times local):

9:15 a.m.

The spacesuit that Apollo 11's Neil Armstrong wore for that one small step on the moon is back on display in mint condition.

The 76-pound suit had been out of view and needed to be rehabbed before it was put on display Tuesday at the Air and Space Museum in Washington. On hand for the unveiling were Vice President Mike Pence, NASA chief Jim Bridenstine and Armstrong's son, Rick.

A fundraising campaign took just five days to raise the $500,000 needed for the restoration.

Calling Armstrong a hero, Pence said "the American people express their gratitude by preserving this symbol of courage."

The Apollo 11 crew of Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins launched to the moon 50 years ago Tuesday. Armstrong died in 2012.

4:30 a.m.

Apollo 11's astronauts are returning to the exact spot from where they flew to the moon 50 years ago.

NASA has invited Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A on Tuesday. They will mark the precise moment - 9:32 a.m. on July 16, 1969 - that their Saturn V rocket departed on humanity's first moon landing. Mission commander Neil Armstrong - who took the first lunar footsteps - died in 2012.

It kicks off eight days of golden anniversary celebrations for each day of Apollo 11's voyage.

Also Tuesday morning, 5,000 model rockets are set to launch simultaneously at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. At the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, Armstrong's newly restored spacesuit goes on display.

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