The achievement of landing astronauts on the moon remains unparalleled in the history of human endeavors. This incredible feat was accomplished by NASA when it placed 12 men on the lunar surface during the Apollo missions over 50 years ago. It all began with the Apollo 11 mission, where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on another celestial body. On July 20, 1969, their lunar lander, aptly named Eagle, touched down on the Sea of Tranquility.
Armstrong’s historic words, “The Eagle has landed,” were followed 6½ hours later by his even more memorable statement as he stepped onto the lunar surface: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
The Apollo lunar module was a unique engineering marvel, standing 23 feet tall. It comprised a lower descent stage with four legs and an upper stage for the crew. The descent stage aided the landing on the moon and was left behind when the astronauts ascended back into lunar orbit.
The remnants of these missions remain on the moon, captured in images taken by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and other international satellites. These photos show the descent stages of various missions, such as Eagle, Intrepid, Antares, Falcon, Orion, and Challenger, scattered on the moon’s near side. Meanwhile, the Apollo 13 lunar module, Aquarius, served as a vital lifeboat and is part of that mission’s legacy.
As NASA progresses with its Artemis program, private companies are preparing the next generation of lunar landers. SpaceX and Blue Origin are developing landers for potential future missions. If the Artemis III docking rehearsal in low-Earth orbit progresses smoothly, NASA aims to return astronauts to the moon by 2028. SpaceX’s Starship, intended for these missions, features a structure so tall that it will require a 10-floor elevator to deliver astronauts to the moon’s surface.
Reflecting on the Apollo 11 achievement, President Richard Nixon highlighted the unity it brought to humanity during a phone call to the astronauts as they stood by the American flag, far from Earth. He remarked, “For one priceless moment in the whole history of man, all the people on this Earth are truly one.”
This article is part of a series titled “American Objects,” commemorating significant milestones as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. All content is produced by the Associated Press Health and Science Department, with support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
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