PATRICK AFB, Fla. – Apollo 11 commander Neil A. Armstrong, left, and Donald K. Slayton, chief astronaut and director of flight crew operations, just arrived at Patrick Air Force Base in a T-38 jet in preparation of the nation’s first lunar landing mission. Lift off atop a Saturn V launch vehicle is scheduled for July 16, 1969. During Apollo 11 the command module, Columbia, will remain in orbit around the moon while the lunar module, Eagle, carrying Armstrong and Aldrin, lands on the lunar surface. During 2½ hours of surface exploration, the crew plans to collect lunar surface material for analysis back on Earth. For more: http:__www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov_history_apollo_apollo-11_apollo-11.htm Photo credit: NASA

PATRICK AFB, Fla. – In preparation of the nation’s first lunar landing mission, Apollo 11 crew members arrive at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. Lunar module pilot Edwin E. Buzz Aldrin Jr. is in the front seat of the T-38 jet, with command module pilot Michael Collins, in the back. Lift off atop a Saturn V launch vehicle is scheduled for July 16, 1969. During Apollo 11 the command module, Columbia, will remain in orbit around the moon while the lunar module, Eagle, carrying Armstrong and Aldrin, lands on the lunar surface. During 2½ hours of surface exploration, the crew plans to collect lunar surface material for analysis back on Earth. For more: http:__www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov_history_apollo_apollo-11_apollo-11.htm Photo credit: NASA

PATRICK AFB, Fla. – Apollo 11 command module pilot Michael Collins, just arrived at Patrick Air Force Base in a T-38 jet in preparation of the nation’s first lunar landing mission. Lift off atop a Saturn V launch vehicle is scheduled for July 16, 1969. During Apollo 11, the command module, Columbia, will remain in orbit around the moon while the lunar module, Eagle, carrying Armstrong and Aldrin, lands on the lunar surface. During 2½ hours of surface exploration, the crew plans to collect lunar surface material for analysis back on Earth. For more: http:__www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov_history_apollo_apollo-11_apollo-11.htm Photo credit: NASA

PATRICK AFB, Fla. – In preparation of the nation’s first lunar landing mission, Apollo 11 crew members arrive at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. Mission commander Neil A. Armstrong is in the front seat of the T-38 jet, with chief astronaut and director of flight crew operations, Donald K. Slayton, in the back. Lift off atop a Saturn V launch vehicle is scheduled for July 16, 1969. During Apollo 11 the command module, Columbia, will remain in orbit around the moon while the lunar module, Eagle, carrying Armstrong and Aldrin, lands on the lunar surface. During 2½ hours of surface exploration, the crew plans to collect lunar surface material for analysis back on Earth. For more: http:__www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov_history_apollo_apollo-11_apollo-11.htm Photo credit: NASA

PATRICK AFB, Fla. – In preparation of the nation’s first lunar landing mission, Apollo 11 crew members arrive at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. Lunar module pilot Edwin E. Buzz Aldrin Jr. is in the front seat of the T-38 jet, with command module pilot Michael Collins, in the back. Lift off atop a Saturn V launch vehicle is scheduled for July 16, 1969. During Apollo 11 the command module, Columbia, will remain in orbit around the moon while the lunar module, Eagle, carrying Armstrong and Aldrin, lands on the lunar surface. During 2½ hours of surface exploration, the crew plans to collect lunar surface material for analysis back on Earth. For more: http:__www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov_history_apollo_apollo-11_apollo-11.htm Photo credit: NASA

PATRICK AFB, Fla. – In preparation of the nation’s first lunar landing mission, Apollo 11 crew members arrive at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. Mission commander Neil Armstrong climbs out of a T-38 jet. Lift off atop a Saturn V launch vehicle is scheduled for July 16, 1969. During Apollo 11 the command module, Columbia, will remain in orbit around the moon while the lunar module, Eagle, carrying Armstrong and Aldrin, lands on the lunar surface. During 2½ hours of surface exploration, the crew plans to collect lunar surface material for analysis back on Earth. For more: http:__www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov_history_apollo_apollo-11_apollo-11.htm Photo credit: NASA

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Apollo 11 Lunar Module Pilot Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. relaxes after suiting up to participate in a space vehicle Countdown Demonstration Test with astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Michael Collins. They will be launched on a lunar landing mission.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Apollo 11 mission officials relax in the Launch Control Center following the successful Apollo liftoff today. From left to right are Charles W. Mathews, deputy associate administrator for Manned Space Flight; Dr. Wernher von Braun, director of the Marshall Space Flight Center; Dr. George E. Mueller, associate administrator for Manned Space Flight; and Lt. Gen. Samuel C. Phillips, director of the Apollo Program.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Apollo 11 Commander Neil A. Armstrong leads Astronauts Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., from the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building to the transfer van for the eight mile trip to Pad 39A. Liftoff of Apollo 11 is scheduled at 9:32 a.m. EDT, which will begin man’s first lunar landing mission.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- These three were among the thousands of persons who camped on beaches and roads adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center to watch the Apollo 11 launch. An estimated one million persons visited the Spaceport area to see the historic flight, the nation's first attempt to land Americans on the lunar surface. Photo credit: NASA

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Apollo 11 Commander Neil A. Armstrong leads astronauts Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. from the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building to the transfer van for the eight-mile trip to Pad 39A. Liftoff of Apollo 11 is scheduled at 9:32 a.m. EDT, which will begin man's first lunar landing mission.

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS - The official Apollo 11 mission patch. Apollo 11 is the first manned lunar landing by the Apollo_Saturn V.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Thousands of persons spent the night before the Apollo 11 launch in tents, campers, automobiles, and on beaches and roads adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center. In all, an estimated 1,000,000 persons visited the Spaceport area to view the historic launch. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Thousands of persons lined roads adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center today to watch the launch of Apollo 11 astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. on the nation's first manned lunar landing mission. Their Apollo_Saturn V space vehicle lifted off at 9:32 a.m. EDT July 16, 1969, from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A. Photo credit: NASA

Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, TX. -- U.S. Navy UDT swimmer Lt. Clancy Hatleberg disinfects the biological isolation garments (BIGs) worn by Apollo 11 astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. after they entered the decontamination raft during recovery operations today at the completion of their successful lunar landing mission. The astronauts donned the BIG suits just before egressing their spacecraft.

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS - A technician aboard the USS Hornet holds the Mobile Quarantine Facility door open for the Apollo 11 astronauts as they leave the recovery helicopter. Astronauts, left to right, Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Neil A. Armstrong and Michael Collins were taken to the USS Hornet after their Lunar Landing mission came to a successful completion at 12:50 p.m. EDT.

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS - Flying in a KC-135 aircraft, Apollo 11 Lunar Module Pilot Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. takes pictures during training for the upcoming first manned lunar landing with astronauts Neil A. Armstrong Jr. and Michael Collins.

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS - Apollo 11 Lunar Module Pilot Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. deployes the Passive Seismic Experiment Package (PSE) on the Moon's surface near Tranquility Base. The sensitive instrument remained behind on the lunar surface to radio back information concerning moonquakes, landslides and meteorite impacts.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Here are some of the thousands of persons who camped out on beaches and roads adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center to watch the Apollo 11 launch. Local Brevard County officials estimate that one million persons visited the area for the historic liftoff. Photo credit: NASA

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Apollo 11 astronauts rehearsed their lunar landing mission in simulators here today. Pictured in front of a lunar module mockup in the Flight Crew Training Building area, from left, are Michael Collins, Command Module pilot; Neil A. Armstrong, commander; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module pilot.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Neil A. Armstrong, commander for the Apollo 11 Moon-landing mission, practices for the historic event in a Lunar Module simulator in the Flight Crew Training Building at KSC. Accompanying Armstrong on the Moon flight will be Command Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin E. Aldrin Jr.