'They nailed it': how a little dish in Australia broadcast the moon landing to the world

Live TV images of Neil Armstrong's first step came via Honeysuckle Creek, near Canberra, originally meant only as a backup

Around the world more than 600 million people were glued to TV screens. Coordinated by Tom Reid, tracking stations at Australia's Honeysuckle Creek, Tidbinbilla and Parkes, and their combined staff of almost 200, would be responsible for maintaining all communications with Apollo 11 during the crucial moon walk phase. These communications included the televising of Neil Armstrong's first step and the monitoring of his heartbeat and respiration rate as he did so, while at the same time enabling him to give Mission Control a second-by-second description of his progress.

How was Tom Reid's team, with not an American accent to be heard, outperforming Nasa's prime station in California?