“Did those astronauts really come here?” a young boy tugged at his mother’s sleeve, his eyes wide with wonder as he gazed down Voie des Cosmonautes. “Right here to Paris?” His mother smiled, pulling him closer. “Yes, they did,” she said. “Imagine, the heroes who walked on the moon, right here on this very street!”. Voie des Cosmonautes, a seemingly ordinary street tucked away in the heart of Paris, holds an extraordinary story. This street, named in honor of the brave individuals who ventured into the cosmos, was once graced by the presence of the Apollo 11 astronauts themselves. In 1969, just a few months after their moon landing, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins embarked on a world tour, a gesture of goodwill from the United States. On October 8th, their journey brought them to Paris.
The choice of Paris wasn’t random. Behind closed doors, it was seen as a strategic move to win the favor of the French intelligentsia, a group known for their skepticism towards the US. The US Embassy in Paris believed that the astronauts, seen as global heroes, could bridge the cultural divide, perhaps even influencing those like Picasso, who famously dismissed the moon landing as insignificant. The astronauts’ arrival was an event of grand proportions. After touching down at Orly airport, they were whisked away to the luxurious Hôtel de Crillon, then to the historic Hôtel de Ville where they received the Vermeil medal, the highest honor bestowed by the City of Paris. A joyous crowd lined the streets as their open-top car traversed Rue de Rivoli. At Hôtel Matignon, they received the prestigious Chevalier of the Legion of Honor from Prime Minister Jacques Chaban-Delmas, a meeting so significant that he left a cabinet meeting early to ensure his presence.
The city buzzed with excitement, a sense of awe palpable as Parisians caught glimpses of the men who had conquered the moon. The astronauts met with luminaries like André Turcat, Concorde’s first test pilot, and Jacques Cousteau, the renowned ocean explorer. Even President Georges Pompidou, known for his reserved demeanor, received the astronauts personally in his office at the Elysée Palace. A testament to their global impact, they held a press conference at the UNESCO headquarters, answering questions not just about their lunar voyage but also about their views on a future mission to Mars.
Voie des Cosmonautes, a quiet street in Orly, serves as a reminder of a time when humanity looked to the stars with unbridled hope. It’s a reminder of the power of exploration to unite us, to inspire us, and to leave an enduring legacy that stretches far beyond the confines of Earth. As we stroll along this street, we can almost hear the echoes of that historic visit, a time when the impossible became possible, and three ordinary men became heroes who touched the heavens and walked among the stars.