Apollo 11
Mission type Crewed lunar landing
Operator NASA
COSPAR ID
CSM: 1969-059A
LM: 1969-059C
SATCAT no.
CSM: 4039
LM: 4041
Mission duration 8 days, 3 hours, 18 minutes, 35 seconds
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft
Apollo CSM-107
Apollo LM-5
Manufacturer
CSM: North American Rockwell
LM: Grumman
Launch mass 100,756 pounds (45,702 kg)
Landing mass 10,873 pounds (4,932 kg)
Crew
Crew size 3
Members
Neil A. Armstrong
Michael Collins
Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr.
Callsign
CSM: Columbia
LM: Eagle
On surface: Tranquility Base
Start of mission
Launch date July 16, 1969, 13:32:00 UTC[1]
Rocket Saturn V SA-506
Launch site Kennedy Space Center LC-39A
End of mission
Recovered by USS Hornet
Landing date July 24, 1969, 16:50:35 UTC
Landing site North Pacific Ocean
13°19′N 169°9′W
Orbital parameters
Reference system Selenocentric
Pericynthion altitude 100.9 kilometers (54.5 nmi)[2]
Apocynthion altitude 122.4 kilometers (66.1 nmi)[2]
Inclination 1.25 degrees[2]
Period 2 hours[2]
Epoch July 19, 1969, 21:44 UTC[2]
Lunar orbiter
Spacecraft component Command and service module
Orbital insertion July 19, 1969, 17:21:50 UTC[3]
Orbital departure July 22, 1969, 04:55:42 UTC[4]
Orbits 30
Lunar lander
Spacecraft component Apollo Lunar Module
Landing date July 20, 1969, 20:17:40 UTC[5]
Return launch July 21, 1969, 17:54 UTC
Landing site Mare Tranquillitatis
0.67408°N 23.47297°E[6]
Sample mass 21.55 kilograms (47.51 lb)
Surface EVAs 1
EVA duration 2 hours, 31 minutes, 40 seconds
Docking with LM
Docking date July 16, 1969, 16:56:03 UTC[3]
Undocking date July 20, 1969, 17:44:00 UTC[7]
Docking with LM ascent stage
Docking date July 21, 1969, 21:35:00 UTC[4]
Undocking date July 21, 1969, 23:41:31 UTC[4]
Circular
insignia: eagle with wings outstretched holds olive branch on Moon with
Earth in background, in blue and gold border. Three astronauts in
spacesuits without helmets sitting in front of a large photo of the
Moon.
Crew: Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin
Apollo program
Apollo
11 was the spaceflight that landed the first two humans on the Moon.
Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin, both
American, landed the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle on July 20, 1969, at
20:17 UTC. Armstrong became the first person to step onto the lunar
surface six hours later on July 21 at 02:56:15 UTC; Aldrin joined him 19
minutes later. They spent about two and a quarter hours together
outside the spacecraft, and collected 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg) of lunar
material to bring back to Earth. Command module pilot Michael Collins
flew the command module Columbia alone in lunar orbit while they were on
the Moon's surface. Armstrong and Aldrin spent 21.5 hours on the lunar
surface at a site they named Tranquility Base before rejoining Columbia
in lunar orbit.
Apollo
11 was launched by a Saturn V rocket from Kennedy Space Center on
Merritt Island, Florida, on July 16 at 13:32 UTC, and was the fifth
crewed mission of NASA's Apollo program. The Apollo spacecraft had three
parts: a command module (CM) with a cabin for the three astronauts, and
the only part that returned to Earth; a service module (SM), which
supported the command module with propulsion, electrical power, oxygen,
and water; and a lunar module (LM) that had two stages – a descent stage
for landing on the Moon, and an ascent stage to place the astronauts
back into lunar orbit.
After
being sent to the Moon by the Saturn V's third stage, the astronauts
separated the spacecraft from it and traveled for three days until they
entered lunar orbit. Armstrong and Aldrin then moved into Eagle and
landed in the Sea of Tranquillity. The astronauts used Eagle's ascent
stage to lift off from the lunar surface and rejoin Collins in the
command module. They jettisoned Eagle before they performed the
maneuvers that propelled the ship out of the last of its 30 lunar orbits
on a trajectory back to Earth.[4] They returned to Earth and splashed
down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24 after more than eight days in
space.
Armstrong's
first step onto the lunar surface was broadcast on live TV to a
worldwide audience. He described the event as "one small step for [a]
man, one giant leap for mankind."[8][9] Apollo 11 effectively ended the
Space Race and fulfilled a national goal proposed in 1961 by President
John F. Kennedy: "before this decade is out, of landing a man on the
Moon and returning him safely to the Earth."[10]
Background
In
the late 1950s and early 1960s, the United States was engaged in the
Cold War, a geopolitical rivalry with the Soviet Union.[11] On October
4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial
satellite. This surprise success fired fears and imaginations around the
world. It demonstrated that the Soviet Union had the capability to
deliver nuclear weapons over intercontinental distances, and challenged
American claims of military, economic and technological superiority.[12]
This precipitated the Sputnik crisis, and triggered the Space Race.[13]
President Dwight D. Eisenhower responded to the Sputnik challenge by
creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and
initiating Project Mercury,[14] which aimed to launch a man into Earth
orbit.[15] But on April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became
the first person in space, and the first to orbit the Earth.[16] It was
another body blow to American pride.[17] In spite of that, the Apollo
program faced the opposition of many Americans and was dubbed
"moondoggle".[18][19] Nearly a month later, on May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard
became the first American in space, completing a 15-minute suborbital
journey. After being recovered from the Atlantic Ocean, he received a
congratulatory telephone call from Eisenhower's successor, John F.
Kennedy.[20]
Kennedy
believed that it was in the national interest of the United States to
be superior to other nations, and that the perception of American power
was at least as important as the actuality. It was therefore intolerable
that the Soviet Union was more advanced in the field of space
exploration. He was determined that the United States should compete,
and sought a challenge that maximized its chances of winning.[11] Since
the Soviet Union had better booster rockets, he required a challenge
that was beyond the capacity of the existing generation of rocketry, one
where the US and Soviet Union would be starting from a position of
equality. Something spectacular, even if it could not be justified on
military, economic or scientific grounds. After consulting with his
experts and advisors, he chose such a project.[21] On May 25, 1961, he
addressed the United States Congress on "Urgent National Needs" and
declared:
I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the
goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and
returning him safely to the Earth. No single space project in this
period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the
long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or
expensive to accomplish. We propose to accelerate the development of the
appropriate lunar space craft. We propose to develop alternate liquid
and solid fuel boosters, much larger than any now being developed, until
certain which is superior. We propose additional funds for other engine
development and for unmanned explorations – explorations which are
particularly important for one purpose which this nation will never
overlook: the survival of the man who first makes this daring flight.
But in a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the Moon – if
we make this judgment affirmatively, it will be an entire nation. For
all of us must work to put him there.
— Kennedy's speech to the congress[22]
The
effort to land a man on the Moon already had a name: Project
Apollo.[23] An early and crucial decision was choosing lunar orbit
rendezvous over both direct ascent and Earth orbit rendezvous. A space
rendezvous is an orbital maneuver in which two spacecraft navigate
through space and meet up. In July 1962 NASA head James Webb announced
that lunar orbit rendezvous would be used[24][25] and that the Apollo
spacecraft would have three major parts: a command module (CM) with a
cabin for the three astronauts, and the only part that returned to
Earth; a service module (SM), which supported the command module with
propulsion, electrical power, oxygen, and water; and a lunar module (LM)
that had two stages – a descent stage for landing on the Moon, and an
ascent stage to place the astronauts back into lunar orbit.[26] This
design meant that the spacecraft could be launched by a single Saturn V
rocket that was then under development.[27]
Technologies
and technics required for Apollo were developed by Project Gemini.[28]
Project Apollo was abruptly halted by the Apollo 1 fire on January 27,
1967, in which astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger B. Chaffee
died, and the subsequent investigation.[29] In October 1968, Apollo 7
evaluated the command module in Earth orbit,[30] and in December Apollo 8
tested it in lunar orbit.[31] In March 1969, Apollo 9 put the lunar
module through its paces in Earth orbit,[32] and in May Apollo 10
conducted a "dress rehearsal" in lunar orbit. By July 1969, all was in
readiness for Apollo 11 to take the final step onto the Moon.[33]
The
Soviet Union competed with the US in the Space Race, but its early lead
was lost through repeated failures in development of the N1 launcher,
which was comparable to the Saturn V.[34] The Soviets tried to beat the
US to return lunar material to the Earth by means of unmanned probes. On
July 13, three days before Apollo 11's launch, the Soviet Union
launched Luna 15, which reached lunar orbit before Apollo 11. During
descent, a malfunction caused Luna 15 to crash in Mare Crisium about two
hours before Armstrong and Aldrin took off from the Moon's surface to
begin their voyage home. The Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories radio
telescope in England recorded transmissions from Luna 15 during its
descent, and these were released in July 2009 for the 40th anniversary
of Apollo 11.[35]
Personnel
Prime crew
Position Astronaut
Commander Neil A. Armstrong
Second and last spaceflight
Command Module Pilot Michael Collins
Second and last spaceflight
Lunar Module Pilot Edwin "Buzz" E. Aldrin Jr.
Second and last spaceflight
The
initial crew assignment of Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module
Pilot (CMP) Jim Lovell, and Lunar Module Pilot (LMP) Buzz Aldrin on the
backup crew for Apollo 9 was officially announced on November 20,
1967.[36] Lovell and Aldrin had previously flown together as the crew of
Gemini 12. Due to design and manufacturing delays in the LM, Apollo 8
and Apollo 9 swapped prime and backup crews, and Armstrong's crew became
the backup for Apollo 8. Based on the normal crew rotation scheme,
Armstrong was then expected to command Apollo 11.[37]
There
would be one change. Michael Collins, the CMP on the Apollo 8 crew,
began experiencing trouble with his legs. Doctors diagnosed the problem
as a bony growth between his fifth and sixth vertebrae, requiring
surgery.[38] Lovell took his place on the Apollo 8 crew, and when
Collins recovered he joined Armstrong's crew as CMP. In the meantime,
Fred Haise filled in as backup LMP, and Aldrin as backup CMP for Apollo
8.[39] Apollo 11 was the second American mission where all the
crewmembers had prior spaceflight experience,[40] the first being Apollo
10.[41] The next was STS-26 in 1988.[40]
Deke
Slayton gave Armstrong the option to replace Aldrin with Lovell, since
some thought Aldrin was difficult to work with. Armstrong had no issues
working with Aldrin, but thought it over for a day before declining. He
thought Lovell deserved to command his own mission (eventually Apollo
13).[42]
The
Apollo 11 prime crew had none of the close cheerful camaraderie that
characterized that of Apollo 12. Instead they forged an amiable working
relationship. Armstrong in particular was notoriously aloof, but
Collins, who considered himself a loner, confessed to rebuffing Aldrin's
attempts to create a more personal relationship.[43] Aldrin and Collins
described the crew as "amiable strangers".[44] Armstrong did not agree
with the assessment, and said "...all the crews I was on worked very
well together."[44]
Backup crew
Position Astronaut
Commander James A. Lovell Jr.
Command Module Pilot William A. Anders
Lunar Module Pilot Fred W. Haise Jr.
The
backup crew consisted of Lovell as Commander, William Anders as CMP,
and Haise as LMP. Anders had flown with Lovell on Apollo 8.[40] In early
1969, he accepted a job with the National Aeronautics and Space Council
effective August 1969, and announced that he would retire as an
astronaut at that time. Ken Mattingly was moved from the support crew
into parallel training with Anders as backup CMP in case Apollo 11 was
delayed past its intended July launch date, at which point Anders would
be unavailable. Lovell, Haise, and Mattingly were later assigned as the
prime crew of Apollo 13.[45]
Support crew
During
Projects Mercury and Gemini, each mission had a prime and a backup
crew. For Apollo, a third crew of astronauts was added, known as the
support crew. The support crew maintained the flight plan, checklists
and mission ground rules, and ensured that the prime and backup crews
were apprised of changes. They developed procedures, especially those
for emergency situations, so these were ready for when the prime and
backup crews came to train in the simulators, allowing them to
concentrate on practicing and mastering them.[46] For Apollo 11, the
support crew consisted of Ken Mattingly, Ronald Evans and Bill
Pogue.[47]
Capsule communicators
CAPCOM Charles Duke, with backup crewmen Jim Lovell and Fred Haise listening in during Apollo 11's descent
The
capsule communicator (CAPCOM) was an astronaut at the Mission Control
Center in Houston, Texas, who was the only person who communicated
directly with the flight crew.[48] For Apollo 11, the CAPCOMs were:
Charles Duke, Ronald Evans, Bruce McCandless II, James Lovell, William
Anders, Ken Mattingly, Fred Haise, Don L. Lind, Owen K. Garriott and
Harrison Schmitt.[47]
Flight directors
The flight directors for this mission were:[49][50][51][52][53][54]
Name Shift Team Activities
Clifford E. Charlesworth 1 Green Launch and extravehicular activity (EVA)
Gerald D. Griffin 1 Gold Backup for shift 1
Gene Kranz 2 White Lunar landing
Glynn Lunney 3 Black Lunar ascent
Milton Windler 4 Maroon Planning
Preparations
Insignia
Apollo 11 insignia
The
Apollo 11 mission emblem was designed by Collins, who wanted a symbol
for "peaceful lunar landing by the United States". At Lovell's
suggestion, he chose the bald eagle, the national bird of the United
States, as the symbol. Tom Wilson, a simulator instructor, suggested
that they put an olive branch in its beak to represent their peaceful
mission. Collins added a lunar background with the Earth in the
distance. The sunlight in the image was coming from the wrong direction;
the shadow should have been in the lower part of the Earth instead of
the left. Aldrin, Armstrong and Collins decided that the Eagle and the
Moon would be in their natural colours, and decided on a blue and gold
border. Armstrong was concerned that "eleven" would not be understood by
non-English speakers, so they went with "Apollo 11",[55] and they
decided not to put their names on the patch, so it would "be
representative of everyone who had worked toward a lunar landing".[56]
An
illustrator at the MSC did the artwork, which was then sent off to NASA
officials for approval.[55] The design was rejected. Bob Gilruth, the
director of the MSC felt that the talons of the eagle looked "too
warlike".[57] After some discussion, the olive branch was moved to the
talons.[57] When the Eisenhower dollar coin was released in 1971, the
patch design provided the eagle for its reverse side.[58] The design was
also used for the smaller Susan B. Anthony dollar unveiled in 1979.[59]
Call signs
After
the crew of Apollo 10 named their spacecraft Charlie Brown and Snoopy,
assistant manager for public affairs Julian Scheer wrote to George M.
Low, the Manager of the Apollo Spacecraft Program Office at the Manned
Spacecraft Center (MSC), to suggest the Apollo 11 crew be less flippant
in naming their craft. The name Snowcone was used for the CM and
Haystack was used for the LM in both internal and external
communications during early mission planning.[60]
The
LM was named Eagle after the motif which was featured prominently on
the mission insignia. At Scheer's suggestion, the CM was named Columbia
after Columbiad, the giant cannon that launched a spacecraft (also from
Florida) in Jules Verne's 1865 novel From the Earth to the Moon. It also
referenced Columbia, a historical name of the United States. [61][62]
In Collins' 1976 book, he said Columbia was in reference to Christopher
Columbus.[63]
Mementos
Apollo 11 space-flown silver Robbins medallion
The
astronaut had personal preference kits (PPKs), small bags containing
personal items of significance that they wanted to take with them on the
mission.[64] Five 0.5-pound (0.23 kg) PPKs were carried on Apollo 11:
three (one for each astronaut) were stowed on Columbia before launch,
and two on Eagle.[65]
Neil
Armstrong's LM PPK contained a piece of wood from the Wright brothers'
1903 Wright Flyer's left propeller and a piece of fabric from its
wing,[66] along with a diamond-studded astronaut pin originally given to
Slayton by the widows of the Apollo 1 crew. This pin had been intended
to be flown on that mission and given to Slayton afterwards, but
following the disastrous launch pad fire and subsequent funerals, the
widows gave the pin to Slayton. Armstrong took it with him on Apollo
11.[67]
Site selection
Map of Moon showing prospective sites for Apollo 11. Site 2 was chosen.
NASA's
Apollo Site Selection Board announced five potential landing sites on
February 8, 1968. These were the result of two years' worth of studies
based on high-resolution photography of the lunar surface by the five
unmanned probes of the Lunar Orbiter program and information about
surface conditions provided by the Surveyor program.[68] The best
Earth-bound telescopes could not resolve features with the resolution
Project Apollo required.[69] The landing site had to be close to the
lunar equator to minimize the amount of propellant required; clear of
obstacles to minimize maneuvering, and flat to simplify the task of the
landing radar. Scientific value was not a consideration.[70]
Areas
that appeared promising on photographs taken on Earth were often found
to be totally unacceptable. The original requirement that the site be
free of craters had to be relaxed, as no such site was found.[71] Five
sites were considered: Sites 1 and 2 were in the Sea of Tranquility
(Mare Tranquilitatis); Site 3 was in the Central Bay (Sinus Medii); and
Sites 4 and 5 were in the Ocean of Storms (Oceanus Procellarum).[68] The
final site selection was based on seven criteria:
The site needed to be smooth, with relatively few craters;
with approach paths free of large hills, tall cliffs or deep craters
that might confuse the landing radar and cause it to issue incorrect
readings;
reachable with a minimum amount of propellant;
allowing for delays in the launch countdown;
providing the Apollo spacecraft with a free-return trajectory, one
that would allow it to coast around the Moon and safely return to Earth
without requiring any engine firings should a problem arise on the way
to the Moon;
with good visibility during the landing approach, meaning that the Sun would be between 7 and 20 degrees behind the LM; and
a general slope of less than 2 degrees in the landing area.[68]
The
requirement for the Sun angle was particularly restrictive, limiting
the launch date to one day per month.[68] A landing just after dawn was
chosen to limit the temperature extremes the astronauts would
experience.[72] The Apollo Site Selection Board selected Site 2, with
Sites 3 and 5 as backups in the event of the launch being delayed. In
May 1969, Apollo 10's lunar module flew to within 15 kilometers (9.3 mi)
of Site 2, and reported that it was acceptable.[73][74]
First step decision
During
the first press conference after the Apollo 11 crew was announced, the
first question a reporter asked was, "Which one of you gentlemen will be
the first man to step onto the lunar surface?"[75][76] Slayton told the
reporter that it had not been decided, and Armstrong added that it was
"not based on individual desire".[75]
One
of the first versions of the egress checklist had the lunar module
pilot exit the spacecraft before the command module pilot, which matched
what had been done in previous missions.[77] The commander had never
performed the spacewalk.[78] Reporters wrote in early 1969 that Aldrin
would be the first to walk on the Moon, and Associate Administrator
George Mueller told reporters he would be the first as well. Aldrin
heard that Armstrong would be the first to step on the Moon because
Armstrong was a civilian, which made Aldrin livid. Aldrin attempted to
persuade other lunar module pilots he should be first, but they
responded cynically about what they perceived as a lobbying campaign.
Attempting to stem interdepartmental conflict, Slayton told Aldrin that
Armstrong would be first since he was the commander. The decision was
announced in a press conference on April 14, 1969.[79]
For
decades, Aldrin believed the final decision was largely driven by the
lunar module's hatch location. Because the astronauts had their
spacesuits on and the spacecraft was so small, maneuvering to exit the
spacecraft was difficult. The crew tried a simulation in which Aldrin
left the spacecraft first, but he damaged the simulator while attempting
to egress. While this was enough for mission planners to make their
decision, Aldrin and Armstrong were left in the dark on the decision
until late spring.[80] Slayton told Armstrong the plan was to have him
leave the spacecraft first, if he agreed. Armstrong said, "Yes, that’s
the way to do it."[81]
The
media accused Armstrong of exercising his commander's prerogative to
exit the spacecraft first.[82] Chris Kraft revealed in his 2001
autobiography that a meeting occurred between Gilruth, Slayton, Low, and
himself to make sure Aldrin would not be the first to walk on the Moon.
They argued that the first person to walk on the Moon should be like
Charles Lindbergh, a calm and quiet person. They made the decision to
change the flight plan so the commander was the first to egress from the
spacecraft.[83]
Pre-launch
Saturn
V SA-506, the rocket carrying the Apollo 11 spacecraft, moves out of
the Vehicle Assembly Building towards Launch Complex 39
The
ascent stage of lunar module LM-5 arrived at the Kennedy Space Center
on January 8, 1969, followed by the descent stage four days later, and
Command and Service Module CM-107 on January 23.[1] There were several
differences between LM-5 and Apollo 10's LM-4; LM-5 had a VHF radio
antenna to facilitate communication with the astronauts during their EVA
on the lunar surface; a lighter ascent engine; more thermal protection
on the landing gear; and a package of scientific experiments known as
the Early Apollo Scientific Experiments Package (EASEP). The only change
in the configuration of the command module was the removal of some
insulation from the forward hatch.[84][85] The command and service
modules were mated on January 29, and moved from the Operations and
Checkout Building to the Vehicle Assembly Building on April 14.[1]
The
S-IVB third stage of Saturn V AS-506 had arrived on January 18,
followed by the S-II second stage on February 6, S-IC first stage on
February 20, and the Saturn V Instrument Unit on February 27. At 1230 on
May 20, the 5,443-tonne (5,357-long-ton; 6,000-short-ton) assembly
departed the Vehicle Assembly Building atop the crawler-transporter,
bound for Launch Pad 39A, part of Launch Complex 39, while Apollo 10 was
still on its way to the Moon. A countdown test commenced on June 26,
and concluded on July 2. The launch complex was floodlit on the night of
July 15, when the crawler-transporter carried the mobile service
structure back to its parking area.[1] In the early hours of the
morning, the fuel tanks of the S-II and S-IVB stages were filled with
liquid hydrogen.[86] Fueling was completed by three hours before
launch.[87] Launch operations were partly automated, with 43 programs
written in the ATOLL programming language.[88]
Slayton
roused the crew shortly after 0400, and they showered, shaved, and had
the traditional pre-flight breakfast of steak and eggs with Slayton and
the backup crew. They then donned their space suits and began breathing
pure oxygen. At 0630, they headed out to Launch Complex 39.[89] Haise
entered Columbia about three hours and ten minutes before launch time.
Along with a technician, he helped Armstrong into the left hand couch at
06:54. Five minutes later, Collins joined him, taking up his position
on the right hand couch. Finally, Aldrin entered, taking the center
couch.[87] Haise left around two hours and ten minutes before
launch.[90] The closeout crew sealed the hatch, and the cabin was purged
and pressurized. The closeout crew then left the launch complex about
an hour before launch time. The countdown became automated at three
minutes and twenty seconds before launch time.[87] Over 450 personnel
were at the consoles in the firing room.[86]
Mission
Launch and flight to lunar orbit
The
Apollo 11 Saturn V space vehicle lifts off with Astronauts Neil A.
Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. at 9:32 a.m. EDT July
16, 1969, from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A.
An
estimated one million spectators watched the launch of Apollo 11 from
the highways and beaches in the vicinity of the launch site. Dignitaries
included the Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General William
Westmoreland, four cabinet members, 19 state governors, 40 mayors, 60
ambassadors and 200 congressmen. Vice President Spiro Agnew viewed the
launch with the former president, Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife Lady
Bird Johnson.[86][91] Around 3,500 media representatives were
present.[92] About two-thirds were from the United States; the rest came
from 55 other countries. The launch was televised live in 33 countries,
with an estimated 25 million viewers in the United States alone.
Millions more around the world listened to radio broadcasts.[91][86]
President Richard Nixon viewed the launch from his office in the White
House with his NASA liaison officer, Apollo astronaut Frank Borman.[93]
Saturn
V AS-506 launched Apollo 11 on July 16, 1969, at 13:32:00 UTC (9:32:00
EDT).[1] At 13.2 seconds into the flight, the launch vehicle began to
roll into its flight azimuth of 72.058°. Full shutdown of the
first-stage engines occurred at about 2 minutes and 42 seconds into the
mission, followed by separation of the S-IC and ignition of the S-II
engines. The second stage engines then cut-off and separated at about 9
minutes and 8 seconds, allowing the first ignition of the S-IVB engine a
few seconds later.[3]
Apollo
11 entered Earth orbit at an altitud