The day 'The Dish' brought the Moon landings to TV

In 1969, the team at Australia's Parkes Observatory worked tirelessly - and through a freak storm - to ensure the world could see history being made on the surface of the Moon.

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As the Apollo astronauts prepared to touch down on the surface of the Moon, a team of Australian scientists at the Parkes Observatory in New South Wales worked, amid a freak storm, struggled to make sure their radio telescope would beam the historic footage to a waiting world. Read the full story here.

These images were taken as the landing unfolded.

(All pics courtesy Csiro)

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A violent squall hit the dish just before landing

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The team even planned to move the dish by hand crank

'There were alarm bells going off, you could hardly hear yourself' - Neil Fox

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The Parkes team ensured the first steps were beamed across the world

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On TV screens around the globe, humanity witnessed the Apollo crew's giant steps

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'With a global audience of 600 million, it’s one of those few turning points in history watched by all mankind' - John Sarkissian

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The Australian team ensured the whole world could witness history being made