The world watched on television as Neil Armstrong from Apollo 11 was the first human to leave footsteps on the moon on July 20, 1969. It was the first time humans walked on another world as he stepped onto the lunar surface, Armstrong said: “That is one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” Still image via NASA video.
The Eagle has landed and footsteps on the moon
On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong landed their moon module on a broad dark lunar lava flow, called the Sea of Tranquility. And six hours later, Neil Armstrong became the first human being to walk on the surface of a world beyond Earth.
In the video below, you can hear the excitement in Armstrong’s voice at the successful landing of Eagle on the moon’s surface as he says:
Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.
The first footsteps on the moon, leaving human footprints on the moon. Image via NASA.
Altogether, Armstrong and Aldrin spent 21 1/2 hours on the moon’s surface. Furthermore, they collected 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg) of moon rocks for return to Earth. And then they blasted off in their module from the lunar surface to meet up with Michael Collins in the command module orbiting overhead.
Finally they returned safely to Earth and landed in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969.
The Apollo 11 launch
Apollo 11 launched at 13:32:00 UTC (9:32:00 a.m. EDT local time) on July 16, 1969. Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr., were aboard. Image via Wikipedia.Apollo 11 left Earth via a type of rocket not longer in use, called Saturn V. The giant Saturn V rocket was 111 meters (363 feet) tall, about the height of a 36-story-tall building. Read more about the Saturn V rocket. Image via Wikimedia.Apollo 11 orbited Earth 1 1/2 times. Twelve minutes after launch, it separated from the Saturn V rocket, as a propulsion maneuver sent it on a path toward the moon. Meanwhile here is a view of Earth from Apollo 11, shortly after it left Earth orbit. Image via Wikimedia.
Apollo 11: Watching from mission control
Happy Apollo 11 mission officials in the Launch Control Center following the successful Apollo 11 liftoff on July 16, 1969. That is the famous German rocket engineer Wernher von Braun, 4th from left (with binoculars). Read more about Wernher von Braun. Image via NASA.
Oh what a view for the Apollo 11 astronauts
Buzz Aldrin looks into a TV camera during the 3rd broadcast from space on the way to the moon. Image via NASA.Earth seen by Apollo 11 astronauts on their way to the moon. Image via NASA.The Eagle lunar module captured this image of the Columbia command module in lunar orbit. Meanwhile Columbia stayed in lunar orbit with Michael Collins aboard during Eagle’s descent and landing. Image via NASA.
The lunar module and Saturn V
Here is the Apollo 11 lunar module, the vehicle that would carry Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the moon’s surface. It was called “Eagle.” This photo also shows the module in its landing configuration, photographed in lunar orbit from the command module, which was called “Columbia.” Astronaut Michael Collins, alone aboard Columbia, inspected Eagle as it pirouetted before him to ensure the craft was not damaged. Image via Wikimedia.The Apollo command module’s position atop the Saturn V at launch. The lunar module – the craft that descended to the moon’s surface – is positioned just below the command module in this diagram. Image via Wikimedia.
There are now 2 heavy lift rockets, either of which could be used for moon missions. Read about SLS v Starship.
Read more: Splashdown! Artemis 1 Orion returns from its trip around the moon
Concerns about the surface for footsteps on the moon
An early concern of space engineers had been that the lunar regolith, the fine soil covering the moon, would be soft like quicksand. There was some fear that the Eagle lunar module would sink after landing. Hence Armstrong’s comment about the depth of the footpads in the lunar soil as he descended the ladder before stepping onto the moon.
Buzz Aldrin descends the steps of the lunar module ladder as he becomes the second human being to walk on the moon. Image via NASA.Armstrong and Aldrin beginning work on the moon. This included deploying a U.S. flag, performing several science experiments, and collecting moon rocks. Still image via NASA video.Here is Buzz Aldrin, who piloted the lunar module Eagle to the moon’s surface, with the LR-3, a reflecting array designed to bounce laser beams fired from Earth back to Earth. This experiment helped refine our knowledge of the moon’s distance and the shape of its orbit around Earth. Image via NASA.Lastly, the lunar module Eagle on the surface of the moon. Image via Wikimedia.
Holding down the fort with a great view
Neil Armstrong in the lunar module Eagle shortly after his historic 1st moonwalk, when he became the 1st human to set foot on a world besides Earth. Image via Wikipedia.Michael Collins caught this photo of the lunar module with Armstrong and Aldrin inside – and with Earth in the distance – as the module ascended from the moon’s surface to rejoin the command module. The lunar module docked with the orbiting command module, and, shortly afterwards, the astronauts began their journey back to Earth. Image via Wikimedia.
Splashdown and celebrations for a successful return
There were no runway landings in those days. Splashdown for the 3 astronauts was in the Pacific Ocean. Here, they await pickup by a helicopter from the USS Hornet. Image via Wikipedia.Celebration at Mission Control as Apollo 11 draws to a successful end. Image via NASA.Ticker-tape parade for the Apollo 11 astronauts in New York City on August 13, 1969. This section of Broadway is known as the Canyon of Heroes. Image via Wikimedia.
A bounty of moon rocks brought back to Earth
The Apollo astronauts brought the 1st moon rocks back to Earth. Here is a sample.
August 5, 1969 – NASA displays moon rocks brought back with the Apollo 11 mission. The rock box was opened for the first time in the Vacuum Laboratory of Johnson Space Center’s Lunar Receiving Laboratory. pic.twitter.com/Eka8sss6Z6
This lunar sample, known as 10057, was collected during Apollo 11 and later sliced into pieces. Image via NASA.
Experience the Apollo 11 landing site as it appears today, in this video:
Bottom line: This week is the 55th anniversary of humanity’s historic Apollo moon landing and the first human footsteps on the moon. The story in pictures, here.
Experience the Apollo 11 landing in video and actual sound at this cool site.
Don’t believe it? Try this video: Why the Apollo moon landings could not have been faked.
A complete Apollo 11 timeline from NASA
Voices of Apollo 11, astronomy art
Here’s the latest Artemis timeline: Humans to the moon!
Deborah Byrd
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About the Author:
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. “Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers,” she says.
