Initially, They Were Going To The Moon Using Big Ladders

In a way, I guess that they did use ladders to go to the Moon. Not to actually get there, sure, but to solve the equations that made every part of the trip possible. In this case, the landings.

Which is precisely what Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins did 40 years ago today, splashing in the Pacific Ocean after their historic trip to the Moon. Here you have them going into quarantine:

[Life and Flight Global]