Apollo 11 lander: the story
Apollo 11 lander · Chapter 1 of 8
16 July 1969
Launch
Apollo 11 lander left Earth on a Saturn V from Launch Complex 39A.
Apollo 11 lander · Chapter 2 of 8
20 July 1969
Arrival
Crewed powered descent at Mare Tranquillitatis.
Apollo 11 lander · Chapter 3 of 8
July 1969
Countdown test
The Apollo 11 spacecraft sat on its Saturn V as the service tower rolled back during a countdown demonstration test.
Apollo 11 lander · Chapter 4 of 8
20 July 1969
Tranquility Base
Eagle touched down on the Sea of Tranquility. Neil Armstrong photographed Buzz Aldrin beside it with a 70 mm camera.
Apollo 11 lander · Chapter 5 of 8
20 July 1969
The plaque
A plaque on the ladder of the landing-gear strut was covered with a thin steel sheet in flight. It stayed on the descent stage.
Apollo 11 lander · Chapter 6 of 8
21 July 1969
Liftoff
The ascent stage carried Armstrong and Aldrin back to Michael Collins in lunar orbit. The descent stage was their launch pad.
Apollo 11 lander · Chapter 7 of 8
2009
Seen from orbit
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter photographed the landing site, where Eagle's descent stage is visible.
Apollo 11 lander · Chapter 8 of 8
21 July 1969
Left behind
On 21 July 1969 the ascent stage lifted off from the descent stage and left it at Tranquility Base, with a plaque on one leg.
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