Apollo 11

## Mission Patch

> Today is about the future of our country.
> We put a man on the Moon today.
>
> Gene Kranz, flight director, before the launch of Apollo 11,
> (Season 1, Episode 1, "Red Moon")

**Apollo 11** was a NASA spaceflight mission in July 1969 and the first attempt to land American astronauts on the Moon. They were beaten by the Soviets, who had landed there 3 weeks before.

## History

Apollo 11 launched on July 16, 1969, from Cape Kennedy, Florida. The crew consisted of mission commander Neil Armstrong, LEM pilot Buzz Aldrin, and CSM pilot Michael Collins. The latter stayed behind in lunar orbit while Armstrong and Aldrin were descending to the surface with the lunar lander. CAPCOM during the mission was Charles Duke.

On July 20, Apollo 11 began its descent to the lunar surface only for trouble to appear. The crew had a rough landing, due to running low on fuel because of a field of boulders. This caused the communication with Mission Control to be cut. Also trying to contact them via Michael Collins from the CSM failed, although he could spot them from orbit through the telescope. After attempting to reach their astronauts for hours, Houston assumed they must have been crashed. Collins was ordered to return to Earth, however, Michael made clear that he would not return alone and stay in lunar orbit, causing even more trouble among those in the control center.

Suddenly, a voice was heard over the radio, telling them that the *Eagle* had landed, although it might have lost a few feathers. Everybody in Mission Control was excited, and so was Michael Collins. They established video transmission and planted the American flag into the lunar surface.

### Return

Climbing into the lunar module and throwing out anything not necessary, they prepared to lift off. They managed to take off with only some difficulty. After rendezvous with the Command Module, they headed home for a safe splashdown in the Pacific ocean.

## Notes

* The patch of this mission was almost identical to the patch of the real mission.
* This was the first Saturn V launch seen in *For All Mankind*.
* The mission happened on the same date as in reality and with the same astronauts.
* In the show, it was launched from Cape Kennedy, while in reality, all Saturn V were launched from the Kennedy Space Center.

## Galleries

### Images

Apollo 11 on launch pad at Cape KennedyDeke Slayton, Thomas Paine & von Braun at Apollo 11The original plate was removedThe crew on their way to the rocketApollo 11 seen from Mission ControlFlight director Gene Kranz.....swearing in the control crewLift offOn the way to the MoonCSM & LEM in lunar orbitSeparationLEM descendingCSM in orbitCSM in orbitApollo 11 landing-site seen from orbitThe flag is plantedSeen on Mission Control.....and live on televisionThe not so perfectly landed LEMArmstrong & Aldrin on the MoonThe landing siteBack home:
Collins, Aldrin, Armstrong
### Video

For All Mankind - Apollo 11 Lunar LiftoffApollo 11 LEM liftoff from the lunar surface
## See also

* Apollo program
* Comparison of show's and real Apollo missions

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 *For All Mankind* TV Series - Season 1, Episode 1: "Red Moon"
2. ↑ *For All Mankind* TV Series - Season 1, Episode 2: "He Built the Saturn V"