EAGLE ON TRANQUILITY BASE; ARMSTRONG READING WORDING ON PLAQUE; ASTRONAUTS COLLECTING MOON SAMPLES, COLLECTING EQUIPMENT AND REJOINING LANDING CRAFT. (NATSOF)




Initials TS/V-SAT-TELE/BOB/MJB



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Background: After three hours on the surface of the Moon, Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin returned to the Lunar Module Eagle on Tranquility Base on the conclusion of their epic Moon-walk. Behind them they left scientific instruments, the United States flag and a plaque recording that they "came in peace for all Mankind".

During their history-making Moon-walk the Astronauts collected samples of the soil they found there and took scientific readings from equipment which they lowered onto the Moon's surface from Eagle, the Lunar Module, and Neil Armstrong also took back into the landing craft a memento of the Moon for his wife .... but back on Earth, his wife Janet would not say what the memento was.

It was Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11's Mission Commander and the only civilian in the crew, who had earlier taken the first haltering steps into mankind's newly-won territory, and it was he who read out to the world the inscription on the plaque which was to be left behind. "Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon, July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind", it read.

The plaque bore the signatures of the crew members and of the President of the United States.

After almost three hours walking on the Moon's surface, the Astronauts were to return to the Lunar Module which was not to be left behind. They had completed all but one minor task in their schedule.

Overhead, Michael Collins orbited in the mothership Columbia to await the blast-off from the Moon of Eagle later today, and for re-docking for the return to Earth on Thursday.