It is still one of the greatest debates of all time but now German Auction house Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen may have provided the definitive answer in writing.
When Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the Moon the radio communication recorded him saying “That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” but it was later reported that Armstrong himself had insisted he had said "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Armstrong later explained to the press "It's just that people just didn't hear [the 'a'],"
Scholars, experts and grammarians have long questioned the missing 'a' in the recording from the Moon, and after further study many Historians now agree that Armstrong did use the 'a' and that he's been misquoted for over 50 years.
It was Peter Shann Ford, a computer programmer who first detected the missing 'a' when he used nerve impulse software, research which Armstrong later described as 'persuasive;' in confirming he did actually say 'for a man'.
Now Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen Auction house are selling a handwritten note offering defintive proof that Armstrong did say 'a'.
Written on official National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas 77058, the letter reads in full: "Dear Mr Kyser The corrected version is the proper one, although I agree it’s difficult to understand in the radio transmission. Thanks for your interest. Sincerely Neil Armstrong" It may seem an unremakable one paragraph letter but to a collector of space memorabilia this is a truly unique item. Bidding starts at €10,000 on 13th October.