One Giant Leap For Mankind

Long shadows highlight Buzz Aldrin’s bootprint in the fine, gray lunar soil on the surface of the Moon. The bootprint looks somewhat rectangular, but is rounded at the toe and heel, with several parallel tread lines. Even in this small portion of the Moon’s surface, we can see that it’s pitted. This photo was taken during Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s historic moonwalk on July 20, 1969. Credit: NASA

One Giant Leap for Mankind

Millions of people around the globe will come together for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games later this month to witness a grand event—the culmination of years of training and preparation.

Fifty-five years ago this July, the world was watching as a different history-changing event was unfolding: the Apollo 11 mission was landing humans on the surface of another world for the first time. An estimated 650 million people watched on TV as Neil Armstrong reached the bottom of the ladder of the lunar module on July 20, 1969, and spoke the words, “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.”

While the quest to land astronauts on the Moon was born from the space race with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, this moment was an achievement for the whole of humanity. To mark the world-embracing nature of the Moon landing, several tokens of world peace were left on the Moon during the astronauts’ moonwalk.

View of the commemorative plaque attached to the leg of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module (LM), Eagle under the LM’s ladder, engraved with the following words: “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all of mankind.” It bears the signatures of the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, Command Module pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., LM pilot along with the signature of the U.S. President Richard M. Nixon. Credit: NASA

“We came in peace for all mankind”

These words, as well as drawings of Earth’s western and eastern hemispheres, are etched on a metal plaque affixed to a leg of the Apollo 11 lunar lander. Because the base of the lander remained on the Moon after the astronauts returned, it is still there today as a permanent memorial of the historic landing.

Close-up of the small silicon disc left on the surface of the Moon by the Apollo 11 astronauts. Messages in several languages are imprinted into the disc. Around its outer edge are the words “From Planet Earth” and “July 1969.” Credit: NASA

Microscopic messages from kings, queens, and presidents

Another artifact left on the Moon by the Apollo 11 astronauts is a small silicon disc etched with goodwill messages from leaders of 74 countries around the world. Each message was reduced to be smaller than the head of a pin and micro-etched on a disc roughly 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) in diameter. Thailand’s message, translated into English, reads: "The Thai people rejoice in and support this historic achievement of Earth men, as a step towards Universal peace."

Curious to read what else was inscribed on the disk? Read the messages.

An olive branch made of gold that was left on the Moon by the Apollo 11 astronauts as a symbol of peace. Credit: NASA

An ancient symbol

The olive branch, a symbol of peace and conciliation in ancient Greek mythology, also found its way to the Moon in July 1969. This small olive branch made of gold was left on the lunar surface during Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s 2.5-hour moonwalk. The olive branch also featured on the Apollo 11 mission patches sewed on the crew’s spacesuits. Designed in part by command module pilot Michael Collins, the insignia shows a bald eagle landing on the Moon holding an olive branch in its talons.

In the blackness of space, the Earth is ¾ illuminated in this photo taken on July 17, 1969. Africa and the Arabian Peninsula are visible in this spectacular photo taken by the Apollo 11 astronauts on their trans-lunar coast toward the Moon. Credit: NASA

We go together

As NASA’s Artemis program prepares to again land astronauts on the Moon, including the first woman and the first person of color, this time we’re collaborating with commercial and international partners. Together we will make new scientific discoveries, establish the first long-term presence on the Moon, and inspire a new generation of explorers.

Is aerospace history your cup of tea? Be sure to check out more from NASA’s past at www.nasa.gov/history.

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