APOLLO 11

 
 
 
 
Apollo 11
Launch vehicle: Saturn 5
Launch: 16 July 1969
Recovery: 24 July 1969
Crew: Edwin Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins
This mission conducted the first manned landing on a celestial body other than earth, touching down on the surface of the moon on 20 July 1969. Apollo 11 entered lunar orbit on 19 July, 75 hours 50 minutes into the mission. At 101 hours 12 minutes, Aldrin and Armstrong in LM-5 (Eagle) separated from CSM-107 (Columbia) to make their descent to the lunar surface, where they landed in the Sea of Tranquility (0" 4'15" N lat  23" 26' E long) at 102 hours 45 minutes into the mission. Neil Armstrong became the first human being to set foot on the moon at 109 hours 42 minutes, and was followed by Aldrin 20 minutes later. The total elapsed time spent by the two men outside the spacecraft during EVA was 2 hours 30 minutes, ending at 111 hours 39 minutes. They both walked about 300 feet from the LM, gathered 44 pounds of rock samples and conducted other scientific evaluations. At 124 hours 22 minutes, the Eagle's ascent stage was fired and Eagle re-docked with Columbia at 128 hours 3 minutes. The LM was separated from the CSM, which returned to earth and splashed down in the Pacific at 195 hours 18 minutes.
 

 
The Apollo 11 flight crew, Michael Collins (Command Module Pilot), Neil Armstrong (Mission Commander), and Buzz Aldrin (Lunar Module Pilot).

 
 
 
 
Apollo 11 Saturn V lift off as viewed from the launch tower, July 16, 1969.

 
 
 
LM-5 separation from the CSM (Command Service Module).

 
 
 
View of the Moon from LM-5 during approach to landing site.

 
 
View  from LM-5 window just after landing.

 
 
 
 
First photo by Neil Armstrong  the Sea of Tranquility site.

 
 
Buzz Aldrin backing out of the LM hatch..

 
 
LM-5 portrait.

 
 
LM-5 skirt and descent engine nozzle.

 
 
Buzz Aldrin erects solar wind experiment.

 
 
Buzz Aldrin and the just erected American flag.

 
 
LM ladder and the Commemorative Plaque .

 
 
Buzz Aldrin portrait with Neil Armstrong and LM-5 reflection on his visor.

 
 
Buzz Aldrin unpacks experiments from LM.

 
 
Neil Armstrong in LM-5 cabin after historic moon walk.

 
 
LM-5 ascent stage approaches the Command Module just before docking. The Earth is in the background.

 
 
Leaving the Moon - July 24, 1969.

 
 
Apollo 11 crew await pickup by helicopter following splashdown.

 
Touch button for panoramic view of "The Sea of Tranquility".