Historic Landing Site · Statio Tranquillitatis
Apollo 11: Humanity's First Footsteps on the Moon
On 20 July 1969, the Lunar Module Eagle touched down in southwestern Mare Tranquillitatis, where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the lunar surface.
Feature Profile
- Feature type
- landing
- Coordinates
- 0.67° N · 23.47° E
- Mission Date
- 20 July 1969
- Crew / Lander
- Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins
- Status
- Historic lunar landing site
Background
On 20 July 1969 at 20:17:40 UTC, the Apollo 11 Lunar Module Eagle touched down in southwestern Mare Tranquillitatis. Commander Neil Armstrong radioed mission control in Houston with the immortal words: 'Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.'
Six hours after touchdown, Armstrong stepped off the modular equipment stowage assembly onto the lunar soil, announcing: 'That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.' Buzz Aldrin joined him nineteen minutes later, describing the lunar landscape as 'magnificent desolation.'
During their 2 hours and 31 minutes on the lunar surface, Armstrong and Aldrin deployed the Early Apollo Scientific Experiments Package (EASEP), planted the United States flag, and collected 21.55 kilograms of lunar rocks and regolith.
Craterra renders the exact touchdown terrain of Statio Tranquillitatis with true coordinates, allowing virtual exploration of the historical landing site and surrounding crater fields.