|
Apollo
11 was the first mission in which humans walked on the lunar surface.
The
mission launched on a Saturn V on 16 July 1969 from pad 39A of Kennedy
Space Center
On
20 July 1969 Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. landed
in Mare Tranquilitatis (the Sea of Tranquility). Armstrong reported,
"Houston, Tranquility Base here - the Eagle has landed." CM pilot
Michael Collins continued in lunar orbit.
Armstrong
stepped onto the lunar surface stating, "That's one small step for
man, one giant leap for mankind". Aldrin followed 19 minutes later.
The astronauts deployed the ELSEP and other instruments, took photographs,
and collected 21.7 kg of lunar rock and soil. The astronauts traversed
a total distance of about 250 meters. The EVA lasted two and a quarter
hours.
The
LM took off from the Moon on 21 July and the astronauts returned
to Earth on 24 July.
The
performance of the spacecraft was excellent throughout the mission.
The primary mission goal of landing astronauts on the Moon and returning
them to Earth was achieved.
|
