Apollo 11

Apollo 11
Neil A. Armstrong · Public domain · source
Name	Apollo 11
Mission type	Crewed lunar landing
Operator	NASA
Mission duration	8 days, 3 hours, 18 minutes, 35 seconds
Spacecraft	CSM Columbia / LM Eagle
Manufacturer	North American Aviation / Grumman
Launch mass	109,646 pounds
Launch date	July 16, 1969
Launch rocket	Saturn V
Launch site	Kennedy Space Center LC-39A
Landing date	July 24, 1969
Landing site	North Pacific Ocean
Crew members	Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin
Crew photo caption	Left to right: Armstrong, Collins, Aldrin
Insignia caption	Official mission insignia

Apollo 11 was the first crewed mission to land on the Moon and return safely to Earth. Launched by the United States' NASA on July 16, 1969, the mission fulfilled the national goal set by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 of achieving a crewed lunar landing before the end of the decade. Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin landed the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle in the Sea of Tranquility, while Command Module Pilot Michael Collins remained in orbit aboard the Apollo Command/Service Module Columbia.

Mission overview

The primary objective of the mission, as defined by NASA, was to perform a crewed lunar landing and return. The flight plan was based on a technique called lunar orbit rendezvous, which involved separating a specialized landing craft from a main spacecraft in lunar orbit. Key institutions supporting the mission included the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, which housed Mission Control, and the Deep Space Network for communications. The mission unfolded during the intense geopolitical rivalry of the Cold War, representing a significant achievement for the United States in the Space Race against the Soviet Union.

Crew

The commander was Neil Armstrong, a former United States Navy aviator and veteran of the Gemini 8 mission. The command module pilot was Michael Collins, a United States Air Force test pilot who had flown on Gemini 10. The lunar module pilot was Buzz Aldrin, an United States Air Force officer and pilot with a doctorate from MIT who had also flown on Gemini 12. The backup crew consisted of James Lovell as commander, William Anders as command module pilot, and Fred Haise as lunar module pilot. The support team included astronauts like Ken Mattingly and John Young, who would later command Apollo 16.

Mission highlights

The Saturn V rocket, developed under the direction of Wernher von Braun, launched from Kennedy Space Center LC-39A. After achieving Earth orbit, the S-IVB third stage reignited for the trans-lunar injection burn. During the coast to the Moon, the crew televised a broadcast showing Earth from space. Upon entering lunar orbit, Armstrong and Aldrin entered the Lunar Module Eagle. The descent was marked by program alarms and low fuel warnings, forcing Armstrong to manually pilot the craft to a safe landing site. Armstrong reported "The Eagle has landed" to Mission Control, led by Flight Director Gene Kranz.

On July 20, Armstrong descended the ladder and, upon stepping onto the surface, uttered the famous phrase, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." Aldrin joined him shortly after, and together they conducted activities including planting the Flag of the United States, deploying the EASEP scientific package, and speaking with President Richard Nixon via a telephone-radio transmission. They collected lunar samples, took extensive photographs, and spent about two and a quarter hours outside the spacecraft before returning to the Eagle. After docking with Columbia in lunar orbit, the crew jettisoned the Lunar Module and performed the trans-Earth injection burn. The command module splashed down in the North Pacific Ocean, where the crew was recovered by the USS *Hornet*.

Legacy and cultural impact

The success of the mission was a watershed moment in human history, watched on television by an estimated 650 million people worldwide. It demonstrated the technological and organizational prowess of the United States and is widely considered the greatest achievement of the Space Race. The event generated iconic imagery and audio, including Armstrong's first step and the plaque left on the Moon that reads, "We came in peace for all mankind." The mission has been extensively referenced in global culture, from films like *First Man* to television series and literature. The samples returned led to major advances in planetary science and our understanding of the Moon's origin.

Spacecraft and hardware

The mission utilized the Saturn V launch vehicle, a three-stage rocket built by Boeing, North American Aviation, and Douglas Aircraft Company. The Command and Service Module (CSM) was built by North American Aviation and was named Columbia. The Lunar Module (LM), built by Grumman, was named Eagle. Key hardware included the Apollo Guidance Computer, which was critical for navigation, and the spacesuits manufactured by ILC Dover. The Crawler-Transporter moved the assembled rocket to the launch pad, and recovery operations were handled by teams from the United States Navy.

Category:Apollo program Category:1969 in the United States Category:Human spaceflight