APOLLO 11 - Sea of Tranquility

Apollo11, Sea of Tranquility, 20 July 1969, frames A11-40-5864, 65 and A11-40-5869. After Armstrong picked-up the camera and took the contingency samples, Aldrin started to descend the LM ladder to set foot on the Moon. One of his first task was to test the ability to reach the the first rung of the ladder and we can see him preparing to make a jump. Note also the jettison bag just beneath the descent stage of the LM, this was the first item ever put on the lunar surface by humans.

Apollo11, Sea of Tranquility, 20 July 1969, frames A11-40-5872 and A11-40-5874. On July 20th, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the Moon. Their moon walk lasted about 2h30 during which Buzz Aldrin deployed the Solar Wind Collector (SWC), a foil sheet which he is pointing at the Sun and than the flag. Note the word 'Shade' printed on the bottom of the back side. The word 'Sun' is printed on the sunward side. Buzz then saluted the U.S. Flag. His fingertips are visible on the far side of his faceplate. The panorama created with these two frames make Buzz Aldrin appear twice, frame A11-40-5874 was taken approximatly 7 minutes after frame A11-40-5872.

Apollo11, Sea of Tranquility, 20 July 1969, frames A11-40-5914 to A11-40-5916. Buzz Aldrin had the camera and made a panorama of the site. In the original images, only half of the ascent stage is visible so parts of the Apollo 12 ascent stage were used to make this picture.

Apollo11, Sea of Tranquility, 20 July 1969, frames A11-40-5943 and A11-40-5944. The astronauts deployed the Early Apollo Scientific Experiments Package (EASEP). Neil Armstrong took three frames of Buzz Aldrin carrying the EASEP (A11-40-5942 to A11-40-5944) away from the lunar module. The panorama created with two on these frames make Buzz Aldrin appear twice.

Apollo11, Sea of Tranquility, 20 July 1969, frames A11-40-5954 to A11-40-5961. Neil Armstrong has run about 60 meters east of the LM to look at Little West Crater. The crater is about 30 meters in diameter and Neil is taking a partial pan from the WSW rim. The Gold camera, which Neil has brought out with him, is at the left.