Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Armstrong Collins Aldrin
Launched: July 16, 1969 Landed: July 20, 1969 Splashdown: July 24, 1969
"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."
On July 20, 1969, President John F. Kennedy's mandate that America go to the Moon was fulfilled - Apollo 11's lunar module Eagle touched down in the lunar Sea of Tranquility. As astronaut Michael Collins orbited in the command module Columbia, a television audience of unprecedented scope watched Neil Armstrong become the first human to set foot upon the Moon. During their brief two and a half hours of exploration, Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin gathered samples of lunar rocks and dust, planted an American flag onto the lunar surface, and conducted scientific experiments - all the while discovering how best to move about in the Moon's low-gravity environment. Upon their return to Earth, the crew was immediately quarantined to avoid spreading possible lunar microbes. Almost three weeks later, healthy, and anxious to go home, they were released to a heroes' welcome.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Exploration. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #35 John F. Kennedy series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1968.
Location. 34° 42.669′ N, 86° 39.339′ W. Marker is in Huntsville , Alabama, in Madison County. Marker can be reached from Tranquility Base, half a mile west of Old Madison Pike NW, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville AL 35805, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Conrad Gordon Bean (here, next to this marker); Lovell Swigert Haise (here, next to this marker); Shepard Roosa Mitchell (here, next to this marker); McDivitt Scott Schweickart / Stafford Young Cernan (here, next to this marker); Scott Worden Irwin (here, next to this marker); Young Mattingly Duke (a few steps from this marker); Schirra Eisele Cunningham / Borman Lovell Anders (a few steps from this marker); Cernan Evans Schmitt (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntsville.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2013, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 913 times since then and 12 times this year. Last updated on July 14, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos: 1. submitted on October 25, 2013, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 2, 3. submitted on October 27, 2013, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on October 25, 2013, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.