Apollo 11: Key Mission Statistics & Achievements
Mission Timeline
Crew Information
Average Age of Crew: 38 years
Neil Armstrong’s Age: 38 years, 11 months
Total Astronauts Who Have Walked on the Moon: 12
Technical Data
- Saturn V Rocket Height: 363 feet (110.6 meters)
- Apollo 11 Spacecraft Weight: 109,646 pounds (49,735 kg)
- Lunar Module Weight on Landing: 33,205 pounds (15,061 kg)
Historical Context
- First Powered Flight (Wright Brothers): 1903
- Time Between First Flight & Moon Landing: 66 years
- Cold War Space Race Duration: ~1955-1975
Mission Achievements
- Moon Rocks Collected: 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg)
- Distance Traveled: 953,054 miles (1,533,792 km)
- Peak Broadcast Viewership: 600 million worldwide
Post-Mission Impact
Number of people who have visited the Moon since Apollo 11: 10
Year of Last Moon Landing: 1972 (Apollo 17)
Estimated Total Cost of Apollo Program: $25.4 billion (1973 dollars)
Neil Armstrong & Apollo 11: Key Facts
Neil Armstrong’s Background
- Birthdate: August 5, 1930, Wapakoneta, Ohio
- Pilot’s License: Earned before he could legally drive
- Military Service: Naval aviator from 1949 to 1952, flew 78 combat missions in the Korean War
Apollo Program Context
- JFK’s Goal: Land Americans on the Moon by the end of the 1960s
- Space Race: Apollo 11 marked a major U.S. victory over the Soviet Union
Mission Preparation
- Commander Selection: Armstrong selected in December 1968
- Training Period: Six months of intensive preparation
- Landing Practice: Armstrong and Aldrin used LLRV and LLTV for training
Launch and Flight
- Launch Date: July 16, 1969, 9:32 AM EDT, Cape Kennedy, Florida
- Saturn V Rocket: Height of 363 feet, weighing 6.7 million pounds
- Journey Duration: 76 hours to reach the Moon
Historical Significance
- Global Viewership: 650 million people watched the Moon landing on TV
- Apollo Program Legacy: First of six successful lunar landings
- Lunar Samples: 21.5 kg of Moon rock brought back for study
Apollo 11 Mission: Key Facts
Launch Date
July 16, 1969
Crew
- Neil Armstrong
- Buzz Aldrin
- Michael Collins
Moon Landing
July 20, 1969
“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” – Neil Armstrong
Time Spent on Moon
21 hours on surface
2.5 hours outside Lunar Module
Return to Earth
July 24, 1969
Splashdown in Pacific Ocean
Impact
Inspired future space exploration
Set the stage for future lunar missions
Apollo 11: Mission Preparation Key Facts
Crew Selection and Training
- Crew Announcement: January 9, 1969, 6 months before launch
- Crew Members: Neil Armstrong (Commander), Buzz Aldrin (Lunar Module Pilot), Michael Collins (Command Module Pilot)
- Training Period: Intensive 6-month preparation
- Lunar Landing Practice: Armstrong and Aldrin used LLRV and LLTV simulators
Spacecraft and Launch Vehicle Preparation
- Command and Service Module Arrival: January 23, 1969, at Kennedy Space Center
- Lunar Module Delivery: Early January 1969
- Saturn V Rocket Stages: Arrived between January and February 1969
- Spacecraft Stacking: Completed atop Saturn V rocket on April 14, 1969
Facilities and Equipment
- Lunar Receiving Laboratory (LRL): Prepared to isolate astronauts and lunar samples
- Mobile Quarantine Facilities: Developed to house astronauts post-splashdown
- 30-Day Simulation: Conducted at LRL in March-April 1969 to ensure readiness
Final Preparations
- Lunar Surface Simulation: Armstrong and Aldrin conducted a 2.5-hour spacesuit simulation in April 1969
- Lunar Module Drop Tests: Performed to certify for landing loads
- Lunar Landing Training Vehicle: Cleared for flight in April after grounding
The success of Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 mission was heavily dependent on extensive training and careful planning.
The mission’s crew—Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins—underwent rigorous training that encompassed learning about the lunar module and command module, survival training, and simulations of lunar conditions.
NASA engineers and scientists spent countless hours perfecting the technology and mission parameters that would carry these men to the moon.
Apollo 11: The Launch and Journey to the Moon
Launch
- Date: July 16, 1969, at 13:32 UTC (9:32 AM EDT)
- Location: Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida
- Launch Vehicle: Saturn V rocket, 363 feet (110.6 meters) tall
- Total Weight at Liftoff: 6,698,700 pounds (3,038,500 kg)
Earth Orbit and Translunar Injection
- Earth Orbit Insertion: 13:43:49 UTC, July 16
- Translunar Injection: 16:22:13 UTC, July 16
- Spacecraft Separation: The crew separated from the Saturn V’s third stage about 3 hours after launch
Journey to the Moon
- Duration: Approximately 3 days
- Distance Traveled: 376,400 km (234,000 miles)
- Maneuvers: The crew performed transposition and docking maneuvers to extract the Lunar Module
- Trajectory Corrections: Three planned corrections were unnecessary due to the precise initial trajectory
Lunar Orbit Insertion
- Arrival in Lunar Orbit: July 19, 1969
- Initial Lunar Orbit: 114 by 313 km (71 by 194 miles) elliptical
- Final Lunar Orbit: Nearly circular between 100 and 122 km (62 and 76 miles) above the lunar surface
Crew Activities During Transit
- Astronaut Enthusiasm: Armstrong called the Saturn V’s launch a “magnificent ride”
- Spacecraft Maneuvers: The crew prepared for lunar operations
- Television Broadcasts: They transmitted live broadcasts to Earth during their journey
Apollo 11: The Historic Moon Landing
🛬 Descent and Landing
- Date: July 20, 1969
- Landing Time: 20:17:39 UTC (3:17 PM CDT)
- Site: Sea of Tranquility
- Lunar Module: Eagle
- Distance from Planned Site: 7 km due to navigation error
⚠️ Landing Challenges
- Manual Control: Armstrong took control to avoid boulders and craters
- Computer Alarms: Five alarms due to system overload during descent
- Low Fuel: Only 25-45 seconds of fuel remained at landing
👣 First Steps on the Moon
- Date: July 21, 1969
- Time of First Step: 02:56:15 UTC (9:56 PM CDT, July 20)
- Armstrong’s Words: “One small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind”
- Buzz Aldrin: Joined Armstrong on the surface shortly after
🚀 Moonwalk Activities
- Duration: 2 hours and 31 minutes
- Samples Collected: 21.6 kg of rock and soil
- Scientific Equipment: Seismometer, laser retroreflector, solar wind collector
- Flag & Plaque: Planted the U.S. flag and unveiled a commemorative plaque
- Presidential Call: Spoke with President Nixon via radio
🌍 Historical Significance
- First Human Landing: First time humans set foot on another celestial body
- JFK’s Vision: Fulfilled Kennedy’s goal to land on the Moon by the 1960s
- Global Audience: Estimated 530-600 million people watched the landing live
“That’s One Small Step for Man…”
Armstrong’s first step onto the lunar surface marked a monumental milestone in human history.
His words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” perfectly encapsulated the significance of Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 mission.
For about two and a half hours, Armstrong and Aldrin conducted experiments, collected lunar soil and rock samples, and planted the American flag on the moon’s surface.
Apollo 11: The Return Home
🌊 Splashdown
- Date: July 24, 1969
- Time: 16:50:35 UTC (12:50:35 PM EDT)
- Location: North Pacific Ocean, 13 nautical miles from USS Hornet
- Coordinates: 13°19′N 169°9′W
🚁 Recovery Operations
- Recovery Ship: USS Hornet (CVS-12)
- Recovery Helicopters: Sikorsky SH-3 Sea Kings from HS-4 squadron
- Frogmen Assistance: Underwater Demolition Team 11 helped recover the capsule
- Command Module: Columbia landed upside down but was righted by inflatable bags
🧪 Biological Isolation
- BIG Suits: Astronauts wore Biological Isolation Garments before exiting
- Decontamination: A swimmer provided BIG suits and helped them into a raft
- Sealed Transport: The crew was flown to USS Hornet in a sealed quarantine container
🤝 Presidential Welcome
- President Nixon: Greeted the astronauts aboard USS Hornet
- Quarantine Trailer: Astronauts waved at Nixon through the window of their trailer
🦠 Quarantine Period
- Duration: 21 days after splashdown
- Facilities: Mobile Quarantine Facility on USS Hornet, later Lunar Receiving Laboratory in Houston
- End Date: August 10, 1969, after no lunar pathogens were detected
📊 Mission Statistics
- Total Duration: 8 days, 3 hours, 18 minutes, 35 seconds
- Distance Traveled: 953,054 miles (1,533,792 km)
- Lunar Samples: 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg) of Moon rock and soil
The successful conclusion of Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 mission was marked by the safe return of the crew to Earth.
After spending more than 21 hours on the moon’s surface, the lunar module ascended and docked with the command module.
On July 24, 1969, the command module splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, and the crew was retrieved by the USS Hornet.
Apollo 11: The Lasting Legacy
🔬 Scientific Impact
- Lunar Samples: Brought back 21.5 kg of lunar material, offering critical insights into the Moon’s composition and history
- Instruments: Deployed scientific tools like the Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment, still active today
- Research Boost: Advanced fields such as materials science, computer technology, and miniaturization
💻 Technological Advancements
- Integrated Circuits: Spurred rapid progress in computers and electronics
- Satellite Technology: Led to better weather forecasting and global communications
- Everyday Innovations: Sparked the creation of fireproof materials, cordless tools, and improved water purification
🌍 Cultural Influence
- Inspiration: Encouraged generations to pursue science, engineering, and space exploration
- Iconic Phrases: Gave us memorable lines like “The Eagle has landed” and “One small step for man…”
- Global Symbol: Became a lasting symbol of human achievement and international cooperation
🚀 Space Exploration
- Lunar Landings: Opened the door for five more successful Apollo Moon landings
- Future Missions: Shaped the direction of space programs like the Space Shuttle and ISS
- Mars & Beyond: Renewed interest in Mars and deeper space exploration
🌐 Geopolitical Impact
- Space Race Victory: Marked a pivotal win for the U.S. in its competition with the Soviet Union
- Cold War Influence: Showcased American technological dominance during a tense global period
- Global Collaboration: Encouraged greater international cooperation in space exploration
⏳ Long-term Effects
- Continued Inspiration: Motivates ongoing space exploration efforts, both public and private
- Benchmark for Achievement: Serves as a timeless reference point for human exploration
- Debates Sparked: Continues to fuel discussions about the value and ethics of space exploration
Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 mission wasn’t just about landing on the moon; it was about showcasing human potential and the spirit of exploration.
It transformed our understanding of our place in the universe and inspired generations of scientists, engineers, and dreamers.
The Apollo 11 mission also provided invaluable scientific data about the moon and paved the way for future lunar expeditions.
Conclusion
When reflecting on Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 mission, one can’t help but marvel at this feat of human accomplishment.
The mission forever changed our perspective, redefined what was possible, and ignited a global fascination with space.
As we remember Neil Armstrong and his monumental journey to the moon, we are reminded of the power of human curiosity and our unending quest to explore the unknown.
The journey of Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 mission from Earth to the moon and back is a testament to the courage, tenacity, and ingenuity of not only Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins but also the countless individuals at NASA who worked behind the scenes.
It is a story of resilience and ambition that will forever resonate in our collective memory as one of mankind’s greatest achievements.
FAQ
- Q: Who were the astronauts on the Neil Armstrong Apollo 11 mission?
A: The astronauts on the Apollo 11 mission were Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. Armstrong and Aldrin were the ones to walk on the moon, while Collins orbited the moon in the Command Module. - Q: When did the Neil Armstrong Apollo 11 mission take place?
A: The Apollo 11 mission, with Neil Armstrong as the mission commander, took place in July 1969. The launch was on July 16, and the lunar landing occurred on July 20. - Q: What were Neil Armstrong’s first words when he stepped onto the moon during the Apollo 11 mission?
A: When Neil Armstrong first stepped onto the moon’s surface, he famously said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” - Q: How long did Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stay on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission?
A: Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin spent a total of 21.5 hours on the moon’s surface during the Apollo 11 mission. However, their actual time spent performing lunar activities outside the Lunar Module was approximately 2.5 hours. - Q: What was the legacy of Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 mission?
A: The legacy of Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 mission is far-reaching. It marked a significant milestone in human space exploration and scientific discovery, inspiring generations of scientists, engineers, and astronauts. The mission also sparked a global interest in space exploration and has greatly influenced space policy and ambitions to this day.