klaes@wrksys.dec.com (CUP/ASG, MLO5-2/G1 6A, 223-3283) (07/20/89)
The Apollo 11 Mission
Armstrong and Aldrin collected and brought back 48 lbs of Moon rocks
and soil. The task was so important that it was one the first things
Armstrong did after stepping on the lunar surface. After testing his
"Moon legs", he scooped up a small bagful of lunar soil and stored
it in a pocket of his spacesuit.
The astronauts left behind a number of items, the largest being the
descent stage of the lunar lander with a commemorative plaque attached
to one of its legs. A silicon disk about the size of a half dollar,
etched microscopically with goodwill messages from the leaders of 73
countries, and a gold olive branch symbolizing peace were also left
amidst tracks of human footprints.
The Apollo 11 Astronauts
Neil A. Armstrong, commander of Apollo 11, the first man to set foot
on the Moon, was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, August 5, 1930. Armstrong
was the only civilian member of the Apollo 11 crew. He was selected
as an astronaut in 1962 and served in Gemini 8 before being assigned
as commander of the Apollo 11 mission. Armstrong is now Chairman of
Computer Technologies for Aviation, Inc., Lebanon Ohio.
Edwin "Buzz" E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module Eagle pilot, was the second
man to walk on the Moon. He was born Jan 20, 1930 in Montclair New
Jersey, and is a graduate of West Point. An Air Force Colonel at
the time of Apollo 11, Aldrin was named as an astronaut in 1963 and
served as a backup pilot for the Gemini 9 mission and prime pilot
for Gemini 12.
Michael Collins, command module Columbia pilot. During Apollo 11,
Collins orbited the Moon in the command module. Collins was born in
Rome, Italy on Oct 31, 1930. He is a West Point graduate and was a
Lieutenant Colonel at the time of Apollo 11. He was the backup pilot
in Gemini 7 and a pilot in the Gemini 10 mission.