Apollo 11 Mission Image: Astronaut Edwin Aldrin walks near the Lunar Module, July 20, 1969
Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong took this photograph of Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin on July 20, 1969, shortly after their lunar module Eagle touched down on the moon's surface. At 10:56 p.m. ET, Armstrong climbed down from the ladder of the Eagle and became the first human to step on the moon. Aldrin joined him shortly after, describing the lunar surface as “magnificent desolation.” For the next several hours both explored and worked on the surface of the moon, gathering soil and rock samples and taking photographs.
The original database description reads: “Description: Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr.,Lunar Module (LM) pilot, walks near the module as a picture is taken of him. Discoloration is visible on his boots and suit from the lunar soil adhering to them. Reflection of the LM and Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong is visible in Aldrin's helmet visor. Image taken at Tranquility Base during the Apollo 11 Mission. Original film magazine was labeled S. Film Type: Ektachrome EF SO168 color film on a 2.7-mil Estar polyester base taken with a 60mm lens. Sun angle is Medium. Tilt direction is Northeast (NE).” National Archives Identifier: 16685140/Local Identifier: 255-AMP-AS11-40-5903_alt . View in National Archives Catalog
View and download AS11-40-5903_alt - Apollo 11 - Apollo 11 Mission image - Astronaut Edwin Aldrin walks near the Lunar Module in the National Archives Catalog. The image is part of Record Group 255, Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Photographs of the Apollo Space Program, File Unit: Apollo 11 - AS11-36-5291 through AS11-45-6714b.
Nearly 1,500 images from this file unit are available to view and download in the National Archives Catalog. You can explore more photographs from NASA and held by the Still Picture Branch through the National Archives Catalog, through the Special Media Records Division blog: The Unwritten Record, on History Hub, or in person at our research room in College Park, MD.