Oct 11

Space Rocket History #227 – Apollo 11 – Rendezvous, Docking and Jettisoning

The ascent of the Eagle was strikingly swift compared with the liftoff of the huge Saturn V rocket from Cape Canaveral. Of course for the Moon launch, there was no atmosphere resisting Eagle, and there was only one-sixth gravity to overcome.

Columbia photographed from Eagle

Eagle inspection and rendezvous

Eagle returns to Columbia with Earth watching

Oct 04

Space Rocket History #226 – Apollo 11 – Moon Launch

Until now they had been focused on reaching the moon, landing, taking a walk on its surface, setting up experiments, exploring, and gathering evidence. With those tasks completed and their lunar bounty was board, the top priority was to fly back to Earth.

Rear of the LM ascent stage with Earth beyond

Buzz after his moonwalk

Rocketdyne’s artist concept of the Apollo 11 LM ascent stage launched from the surface of the moon

Sep 27

Space Rocket History #225 – Apollo 11 – Moonwalk – Part 3

Without a word to Houston, while Buzz made his way back to Eagle, Armstrong took off running.
Long strides carried Armstrong into the sun’s glare to the edge of a crater that looked to be 80 feet across and 15 or 20 feet deep.

Armstrong and the lunar lander are reflected in Aldrin’s visor in the iconic “Visor Shot”

Armstrong working at the Modularized Equipment Stowage Assembly (MESA)

Armstrong back inside the LM after the historic moon walk

Sep 20

Space Rocket History #224 – Apollo 11 – Moonwalk – Part 2 – One Priceless Moment

Support Hurricane Harvey and Irma victims through the Red Cross.

“For one priceless moment, in the whole history of man, all the people on this earth are truly one. One in their pride in what you have done. And one in our prayers that you will return safely to earth” President Nixon.

Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon, July 1969 AD

The flag was not a territorial claim but was intended as a symbol of freedom and to identify the nation that achieved the first landing

Aldrin’s boot during soil mechanics test