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Giant leap for mankind wasn't enough to clear Customs (In a article from the Independent science section) |
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'It was a small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind, but for United States Customs
it was just another day at the office.
Which is why when the triumphant crew of Apollo 11, led by Neil Armstrong,
returned to Earth, one of the first questions they faced was: are you going
through the red channel or the green channel?' 'Documents which have just come to light via the internet' declares the independent article 'show that even if you've just travelled to the Moon and back - especially if you've just travelled to the Moon and back - the US Customs wants to know what you've got. Anyone who has visited the US will be familiar with the huge list of items which travellers are required to declare, such as plants, drugs and other preparations.' The article goes on to state 'Historians at Nasa, the US space administration, have confirmed that the document, signed by the three crew members, Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins, is authentic. It lists their departure point as "Moon" and arrival as "Honolulu" on 24 July 1969. But what, Customs wanted to know, was in those bags? "Moon rock and Moon dust samples," the crew responded. How many people had disembarked or joined the round trip from Cape Kennedy? Thankfully, the answer to both was "nil" - no lost souls and no extra aliens.' |