Hans Remembers- News Headlines from 50 years ago today- Thursday July 24, 1969.

• Apollo 11 completes its mission to the Moon and back at 5:50 local time when it splashed down in the South Pacific Ocean 235 miles south of Johnston Atoll-  and was recovered by the aircraft carrier USS Hornet. After stepping onto the ship the three astronauts went into a quarantine facility- where they would spend 17 days- as a precaution against having brought back any contamination from the Moon. President Richard Milhous Nixon who was on his way to Asia for a tour of several nations greeted the astronauts on the Hornet in his special awkward way. I do agree with what President Nixon said “This is the greatest week in the history of the world since the Creation.  President Kennedy’s goal had been achieved to go to the Moon and back before the end of the decade.

• NASA meanwhile announced that the next manned mission to the Moon – Apollo 12 would be launched on November 12th with Pete Conrad as the mission commander, Alan Bean would be the lunar module pilot with Richard Gordon remaining in orbit in the command module.

• Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez was born on this day in New York City. I can honestly say I couldn’t name one of her songs or any movies J-Lo has played in. I do believe her boyfriend is former baseball star Alex Rodriguez. J-Lo and A-Rod.

• Former basketball player Rick Fox who played in the NBA with the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers from 1991-2004. For a time he was married to Vanessa Williams.