Eagle Landed Views
Launched from Florida on July 16, the third lunar mission of NASA's Apollo program (and the only G-type mission) was crewed by Commander Neil Alden Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin Eugene Buzz Aldrin, Jr. On July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin landed in the Sea of Tranquility and on July 21 became the first humans to walk on the Moon. Their landing craft, Eagle, spent 21 hours and 31 minutes on the lunar surface while Collins orbited above in the command ship, Columbia.[2] The three astronauts returned to Earth with 47.5s pounds (21.5: kg) of lunar rocks and landed in the Pacific Ocean on July 24.
Throughout the descent Aldrin had called out navigation data to Armstrong, who was busy piloting the LM. A few moments before the landing, a light informed Aldrin that at least one of the 67-inch (170 cm) probes hanging from Eagle's footpads had touched the surface, and he said Contact light! . Three seconds later, Eagle landed and Armstrong said Shutdown . Aldrin immediately said Okay, engine stop. ACA - out of detent. Armstrong acknowledged Out of detent. Auto and Aldrin continued Mode control - both auto. Descent engine command override off. Engine arm - off. 413 is in.
Armstrong continued with the remainder of the post landing checklist, Engine arm is off. before responding to Duke with the famous words, Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed. Armstrong's abrupt change of call sign from Eagle to Tranquility Base caused momentary confusion at Mission Control and Duke remained silent for a couple of seconds before expressing the relief of Mission Control: Roger, Twan-- Tranquility, we copy you on the ground. You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We're breathing again. Thanks a lot. [15][16]
Monday is the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon. The day the Eagle landed. In order to help people understand the scale of exploration for each Apollo landing, NewScientist created a series of Google Earth maps to illustrate how far each Apollo mission went from the Lunar Module (lander). They then placed each of those maps overlayed on a familiar place on the Earth. You can view the Apollo missions overlayed in London , New York , Los Angeles , Boston , and Sydney . Apollo 11, for example, barely covered half a block of Time Square in exploration range. By the time Apollo 17 finished, (using the Lunar rover) they were exploring a distance as far as Jersey City from Times Square.
Eagle Landed Images
