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Neil Armstrong’s Heart Rate During The Apollo 11 Mission
Eighteen Apollo 11 Facts You’ve Never Heard Before
50 Of Our Favorite Photos From The Apollo Archives
1 of 45Joan Aldrin, overcome by emotion, lets out a sob of joy and relief as she learns of the successful completion of her husband’s mission.
Houston, Texas. July 1969.Lee Balterman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 2 of 45Back onboard after taking his first steps on the moon, Neil Armstrong gets ready for the journey home.
Apollo 11. July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 3 of 45Jan Armstrong watches Apollo 11 launch skyward.
Cape Canaveral, Florida. July 16, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 4 of 45Down below on Earth, Joan Aldrin, Buzz’s wife, lies on the floor, unable to watch the television screen.
Houston, Texas. July 1969. Lee Balterman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 5 of 45The astronauts head off to the launch site.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 6 of 45Jan Armstrong, wife of Neil, crosses her fingers for good luck during the mission.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 7 of 45Mission Control passes out cigars and American flags to celebrate the mission’s successful completion.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 24, 1969.NASA/Flickr 8 of 45Apollo 11 astronauts (from left) Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin talk before their historic journey into space.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 9 of 45Jan Armstrong during her husband’s mission.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 10 of 45Buzz Aldrin exits the Lunar Module to become the second human to set foot on the moon.
July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 11 of 45Jan Armstrong peers past the sun to watch her husband as he blasts off into space.
Cape Canaveral, Florida. July 16, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 12 of 45Neil Armstrong aboard Apollo 11.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons 13 of 45The astronauts, in quarantine after their trip into space, greet their wives for the first time since touching down.
USS Hornet. July 1969.SSPL/Getty Images 14 of 45Jan Armstrong and her sons, Mark (left) and Ricky, watch Apollo 11 take off from the deck of a boat.
Cape Canaveral, Florida. July 16, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 15 of 45Former President Lyndon Johnson and current Vice President Spiro Agnew watch the launch.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 16 of 45Buzz Aldrin walks on the surface of the moon.
July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 17 of 45Jan and Ricky Armstrong watch the reports come in.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 18 of 45Mission Control erupts in celebration after the crew returns to Earth.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 24, 1969.NASA/Flickr 19 of 45Jan Armstrong watches from a distance as her husband, Neil, discusses the preparations for the Apollo 11 launch with his fellow astronauts.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 20 of 45Apollo 11 waits on the launch pad.
Merritt Island, Florida. May 1969.NASA/Flickr 21 of 45The three astronaut’s wives, Joan Aldrin, Patricia Collins, and Jan Armstong, stand together the day before the launch.
Houston, Texas. July 18, 1969.Bettmann/Getty Images 22 of 45Mission control waits in tense anticipation for the countdown to begin.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 23 of 45A crowd gathers to watch the launch.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 24 of 45The crowd at John F. Kennedy International Airport stop what they’re doing to watch televised coverage of the moon landing mission.
New York City, New York. July 20, 1969.CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images 25 of 45Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins on their way to a launch countdown test.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 1969.SSPL/Getty Images 26 of 45A tense NASA administrator George Mueller stands in the mission control room on the morning of the launch.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 27 of 45Apollo 11 blasts off.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 28 of 45Michael Collins at work inside Apollo 11.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons 29 of 45Buzz Aldrin aboard Apollo 11.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons 30 of 45Apollo 11 looks down on Earth from up among the stars.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons 31 of 45Jan Armstrong and family watch the news reports from home, unable to do anything but pray as Neil soars into space.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 32 of 45Jan Armstrong looks over documents on the Apollo 11 mission as she waits to hear from her husband.
Houston, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 33 of 45The Lunar Module touches down on the moon.
July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 34 of 45Patricia Collins and her daughters, Kate and Ann, excitedly watch the mission on TV.
Houston, Texas. July 1969.Bob Peterson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 35 of 45The launch control center begins to relax shortly after Apollo 11’s successful takeoff.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 36 of 45A proud Pat Collins gives a press conference outside her home, shortly after the Apollo 11 crew lands on the moon.
Houston, Texas. July 20, 1969.Bettmann/Getty Images 37 of 45Jan Armstrong (center) and Apollo 11 backup commander Jim Lovell celebrate the mission’s successful completion.
El Largo, Texas. July 24, 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 38 of 45The crew of the USS Hornet help the astronauts get out of the Command Module.
Pacific Ocean (900 miles southwest of Hawaii). July 24, 1969.NASA/Flickr 39 of 45The ecstatic astronauts peer out of the window of the quarantine facility.
USS Hornet. July, 1969.LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 40 of 45Nail Armstrong, from inside quarantine, talks to his son.
Ellington Air Force Base, Texas. July, 1969.NASA/Getty Images 41 of 45A proud Jan Aldrin holds up a newspaper that reads, “Apollo Reaches the Moon.”
Houston, Texas. July 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 42 of 45Michael and Pat Collins enjoy breakfast together, in their home amid the preparation phase before the launch.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 43 of 45Neil Armstrong watches his wife and son play at home before the launch.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 44 of 45A relieved Joan Aldrin applauds as she watches the coverage of Apollo 11’s return to Earth.
Houston, Texas. July 24, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
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The Apollo 11 Mission Through The Eyes Of The Astronauts And Their Families View Gallery
The Apollo 11 moon landing was a moment of pride and excitement for the U.S. and the world — but for three women, it was also likely the most agonizing and terrifying eight days of their lives. Jan Armstrong, Joan Aldrin, and Pat Collins could do nothing but sit, watch, wait and pray while their husbands risked their lives to become the first humans on the moon.
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Neil Armstrong’s Heart Rate During The Apollo 11 Mission
Eighteen Apollo 11 Facts You’ve Never Heard Before
50 Of Our Favorite Photos From The Apollo Archives
1 of 45Joan Aldrin, overcome by emotion, lets out a sob of joy and relief as she learns of the successful completion of her husband’s mission.
Houston, Texas. July 1969.Lee Balterman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 2 of 45Back onboard after taking his first steps on the moon, Neil Armstrong gets ready for the journey home.
Apollo 11. July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 3 of 45Jan Armstrong watches Apollo 11 launch skyward.
Cape Canaveral, Florida. July 16, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 4 of 45Down below on Earth, Joan Aldrin, Buzz’s wife, lies on the floor, unable to watch the television screen.
Houston, Texas. July 1969. Lee Balterman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 5 of 45The astronauts head off to the launch site.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 6 of 45Jan Armstrong, wife of Neil, crosses her fingers for good luck during the mission.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 7 of 45Mission Control passes out cigars and American flags to celebrate the mission’s successful completion.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 24, 1969.NASA/Flickr 8 of 45Apollo 11 astronauts (from left) Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin talk before their historic journey into space.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 9 of 45Jan Armstrong during her husband’s mission.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 10 of 45Buzz Aldrin exits the Lunar Module to become the second human to set foot on the moon.
July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 11 of 45Jan Armstrong peers past the sun to watch her husband as he blasts off into space.
Cape Canaveral, Florida. July 16, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 12 of 45Neil Armstrong aboard Apollo 11.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons 13 of 45The astronauts, in quarantine after their trip into space, greet their wives for the first time since touching down.
USS Hornet. July 1969.SSPL/Getty Images 14 of 45Jan Armstrong and her sons, Mark (left) and Ricky, watch Apollo 11 take off from the deck of a boat.
Cape Canaveral, Florida. July 16, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 15 of 45Former President Lyndon Johnson and current Vice President Spiro Agnew watch the launch.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 16 of 45Buzz Aldrin walks on the surface of the moon.
July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 17 of 45Jan and Ricky Armstrong watch the reports come in.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 18 of 45Mission Control erupts in celebration after the crew returns to Earth.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 24, 1969.NASA/Flickr 19 of 45Jan Armstrong watches from a distance as her husband, Neil, discusses the preparations for the Apollo 11 launch with his fellow astronauts.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 20 of 45Apollo 11 waits on the launch pad.
Merritt Island, Florida. May 1969.NASA/Flickr 21 of 45The three astronaut’s wives, Joan Aldrin, Patricia Collins, and Jan Armstong, stand together the day before the launch.
Houston, Texas. July 18, 1969.Bettmann/Getty Images 22 of 45Mission control waits in tense anticipation for the countdown to begin.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 23 of 45A crowd gathers to watch the launch.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 24 of 45The crowd at John F. Kennedy International Airport stop what they’re doing to watch televised coverage of the moon landing mission.
New York City, New York. July 20, 1969.CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images 25 of 45Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins on their way to a launch countdown test.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 1969.SSPL/Getty Images 26 of 45A tense NASA administrator George Mueller stands in the mission control room on the morning of the launch.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 27 of 45Apollo 11 blasts off.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 28 of 45Michael Collins at work inside Apollo 11.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons 29 of 45Buzz Aldrin aboard Apollo 11.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons 30 of 45Apollo 11 looks down on Earth from up among the stars.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons 31 of 45Jan Armstrong and family watch the news reports from home, unable to do anything but pray as Neil soars into space.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 32 of 45Jan Armstrong looks over documents on the Apollo 11 mission as she waits to hear from her husband.
Houston, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 33 of 45The Lunar Module touches down on the moon.
July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 34 of 45Patricia Collins and her daughters, Kate and Ann, excitedly watch the mission on TV.
Houston, Texas. July 1969.Bob Peterson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 35 of 45The launch control center begins to relax shortly after Apollo 11’s successful takeoff.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 36 of 45A proud Pat Collins gives a press conference outside her home, shortly after the Apollo 11 crew lands on the moon.
Houston, Texas. July 20, 1969.Bettmann/Getty Images 37 of 45Jan Armstrong (center) and Apollo 11 backup commander Jim Lovell celebrate the mission’s successful completion.
El Largo, Texas. July 24, 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 38 of 45The crew of the USS Hornet help the astronauts get out of the Command Module.
Pacific Ocean (900 miles southwest of Hawaii). July 24, 1969.NASA/Flickr 39 of 45The ecstatic astronauts peer out of the window of the quarantine facility.
USS Hornet. July, 1969.LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 40 of 45Nail Armstrong, from inside quarantine, talks to his son.
Ellington Air Force Base, Texas. July, 1969.NASA/Getty Images 41 of 45A proud Jan Aldrin holds up a newspaper that reads, “Apollo Reaches the Moon.”
Houston, Texas. July 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 42 of 45Michael and Pat Collins enjoy breakfast together, in their home amid the preparation phase before the launch.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 43 of 45Neil Armstrong watches his wife and son play at home before the launch.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 44 of 45A relieved Joan Aldrin applauds as she watches the coverage of Apollo 11’s return to Earth.
Houston, Texas. July 24, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
Neil Armstrong’s Heart Rate During The Apollo 11 Mission
Eighteen Apollo 11 Facts You’ve Never Heard Before
50 Of Our Favorite Photos From The Apollo Archives
1 of 45Joan Aldrin, overcome by emotion, lets out a sob of joy and relief as she learns of the successful completion of her husband’s mission.
Houston, Texas. July 1969.Lee Balterman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 2 of 45Back onboard after taking his first steps on the moon, Neil Armstrong gets ready for the journey home.
Apollo 11. July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 3 of 45Jan Armstrong watches Apollo 11 launch skyward.
Cape Canaveral, Florida. July 16, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 4 of 45Down below on Earth, Joan Aldrin, Buzz’s wife, lies on the floor, unable to watch the television screen.
Houston, Texas. July 1969. Lee Balterman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 5 of 45The astronauts head off to the launch site.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 6 of 45Jan Armstrong, wife of Neil, crosses her fingers for good luck during the mission.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 7 of 45Mission Control passes out cigars and American flags to celebrate the mission’s successful completion.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 24, 1969.NASA/Flickr 8 of 45Apollo 11 astronauts (from left) Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin talk before their historic journey into space.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 9 of 45Jan Armstrong during her husband’s mission.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 10 of 45Buzz Aldrin exits the Lunar Module to become the second human to set foot on the moon.
July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 11 of 45Jan Armstrong peers past the sun to watch her husband as he blasts off into space.
Cape Canaveral, Florida. July 16, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 12 of 45Neil Armstrong aboard Apollo 11.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons 13 of 45The astronauts, in quarantine after their trip into space, greet their wives for the first time since touching down.
USS Hornet. July 1969.SSPL/Getty Images 14 of 45Jan Armstrong and her sons, Mark (left) and Ricky, watch Apollo 11 take off from the deck of a boat.
Cape Canaveral, Florida. July 16, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 15 of 45Former President Lyndon Johnson and current Vice President Spiro Agnew watch the launch.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 16 of 45Buzz Aldrin walks on the surface of the moon.
July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 17 of 45Jan and Ricky Armstrong watch the reports come in.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 18 of 45Mission Control erupts in celebration after the crew returns to Earth.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 24, 1969.NASA/Flickr 19 of 45Jan Armstrong watches from a distance as her husband, Neil, discusses the preparations for the Apollo 11 launch with his fellow astronauts.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 20 of 45Apollo 11 waits on the launch pad.
Merritt Island, Florida. May 1969.NASA/Flickr 21 of 45The three astronaut’s wives, Joan Aldrin, Patricia Collins, and Jan Armstong, stand together the day before the launch.
Houston, Texas. July 18, 1969.Bettmann/Getty Images 22 of 45Mission control waits in tense anticipation for the countdown to begin.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 23 of 45A crowd gathers to watch the launch.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 24 of 45The crowd at John F. Kennedy International Airport stop what they’re doing to watch televised coverage of the moon landing mission.
New York City, New York. July 20, 1969.CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images 25 of 45Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins on their way to a launch countdown test.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 1969.SSPL/Getty Images 26 of 45A tense NASA administrator George Mueller stands in the mission control room on the morning of the launch.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 27 of 45Apollo 11 blasts off.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 28 of 45Michael Collins at work inside Apollo 11.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons 29 of 45Buzz Aldrin aboard Apollo 11.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons 30 of 45Apollo 11 looks down on Earth from up among the stars.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons 31 of 45Jan Armstrong and family watch the news reports from home, unable to do anything but pray as Neil soars into space.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 32 of 45Jan Armstrong looks over documents on the Apollo 11 mission as she waits to hear from her husband.
Houston, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 33 of 45The Lunar Module touches down on the moon.
July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 34 of 45Patricia Collins and her daughters, Kate and Ann, excitedly watch the mission on TV.
Houston, Texas. July 1969.Bob Peterson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 35 of 45The launch control center begins to relax shortly after Apollo 11’s successful takeoff.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 36 of 45A proud Pat Collins gives a press conference outside her home, shortly after the Apollo 11 crew lands on the moon.
Houston, Texas. July 20, 1969.Bettmann/Getty Images 37 of 45Jan Armstrong (center) and Apollo 11 backup commander Jim Lovell celebrate the mission’s successful completion.
El Largo, Texas. July 24, 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 38 of 45The crew of the USS Hornet help the astronauts get out of the Command Module.
Pacific Ocean (900 miles southwest of Hawaii). July 24, 1969.NASA/Flickr 39 of 45The ecstatic astronauts peer out of the window of the quarantine facility.
USS Hornet. July, 1969.LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 40 of 45Nail Armstrong, from inside quarantine, talks to his son.
Ellington Air Force Base, Texas. July, 1969.NASA/Getty Images 41 of 45A proud Jan Aldrin holds up a newspaper that reads, “Apollo Reaches the Moon.”
Houston, Texas. July 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 42 of 45Michael and Pat Collins enjoy breakfast together, in their home amid the preparation phase before the launch.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 43 of 45Neil Armstrong watches his wife and son play at home before the launch.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 44 of 45A relieved Joan Aldrin applauds as she watches the coverage of Apollo 11’s return to Earth.
Houston, Texas. July 24, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
Neil Armstrong’s Heart Rate During The Apollo 11 Mission
Eighteen Apollo 11 Facts You’ve Never Heard Before
50 Of Our Favorite Photos From The Apollo Archives
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1 of 45Joan Aldrin, overcome by emotion, lets out a sob of joy and relief as she learns of the successful completion of her husband’s mission.
Houston, Texas. July 1969.Lee Balterman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 2 of 45Back onboard after taking his first steps on the moon, Neil Armstrong gets ready for the journey home.
Apollo 11. July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 3 of 45Jan Armstrong watches Apollo 11 launch skyward.
Cape Canaveral, Florida. July 16, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 4 of 45Down below on Earth, Joan Aldrin, Buzz’s wife, lies on the floor, unable to watch the television screen.
Houston, Texas. July 1969. Lee Balterman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 5 of 45The astronauts head off to the launch site.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 6 of 45Jan Armstrong, wife of Neil, crosses her fingers for good luck during the mission.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 7 of 45Mission Control passes out cigars and American flags to celebrate the mission’s successful completion.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 24, 1969.NASA/Flickr 8 of 45Apollo 11 astronauts (from left) Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin talk before their historic journey into space.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 9 of 45Jan Armstrong during her husband’s mission.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 10 of 45Buzz Aldrin exits the Lunar Module to become the second human to set foot on the moon.
July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 11 of 45Jan Armstrong peers past the sun to watch her husband as he blasts off into space.
Cape Canaveral, Florida. July 16, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 12 of 45Neil Armstrong aboard Apollo 11.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons 13 of 45The astronauts, in quarantine after their trip into space, greet their wives for the first time since touching down.
USS Hornet. July 1969.SSPL/Getty Images 14 of 45Jan Armstrong and her sons, Mark (left) and Ricky, watch Apollo 11 take off from the deck of a boat.
Cape Canaveral, Florida. July 16, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 15 of 45Former President Lyndon Johnson and current Vice President Spiro Agnew watch the launch.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 16 of 45Buzz Aldrin walks on the surface of the moon.
July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 17 of 45Jan and Ricky Armstrong watch the reports come in.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 18 of 45Mission Control erupts in celebration after the crew returns to Earth.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 24, 1969.NASA/Flickr 19 of 45Jan Armstrong watches from a distance as her husband, Neil, discusses the preparations for the Apollo 11 launch with his fellow astronauts.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 20 of 45Apollo 11 waits on the launch pad.
Merritt Island, Florida. May 1969.NASA/Flickr 21 of 45The three astronaut’s wives, Joan Aldrin, Patricia Collins, and Jan Armstong, stand together the day before the launch.
Houston, Texas. July 18, 1969.Bettmann/Getty Images 22 of 45Mission control waits in tense anticipation for the countdown to begin.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 23 of 45A crowd gathers to watch the launch.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 24 of 45The crowd at John F. Kennedy International Airport stop what they’re doing to watch televised coverage of the moon landing mission.
New York City, New York. July 20, 1969.CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images 25 of 45Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins on their way to a launch countdown test.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 1969.SSPL/Getty Images 26 of 45A tense NASA administrator George Mueller stands in the mission control room on the morning of the launch.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 27 of 45Apollo 11 blasts off.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 28 of 45Michael Collins at work inside Apollo 11.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons 29 of 45Buzz Aldrin aboard Apollo 11.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons 30 of 45Apollo 11 looks down on Earth from up among the stars.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons 31 of 45Jan Armstrong and family watch the news reports from home, unable to do anything but pray as Neil soars into space.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 32 of 45Jan Armstrong looks over documents on the Apollo 11 mission as she waits to hear from her husband.
Houston, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 33 of 45The Lunar Module touches down on the moon.
July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons 34 of 45Patricia Collins and her daughters, Kate and Ann, excitedly watch the mission on TV.
Houston, Texas. July 1969.Bob Peterson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 35 of 45The launch control center begins to relax shortly after Apollo 11’s successful takeoff.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr 36 of 45A proud Pat Collins gives a press conference outside her home, shortly after the Apollo 11 crew lands on the moon.
Houston, Texas. July 20, 1969.Bettmann/Getty Images 37 of 45Jan Armstrong (center) and Apollo 11 backup commander Jim Lovell celebrate the mission’s successful completion.
El Largo, Texas. July 24, 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 38 of 45The crew of the USS Hornet help the astronauts get out of the Command Module.
Pacific Ocean (900 miles southwest of Hawaii). July 24, 1969.NASA/Flickr 39 of 45The ecstatic astronauts peer out of the window of the quarantine facility.
USS Hornet. July, 1969.LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 40 of 45Nail Armstrong, from inside quarantine, talks to his son.
Ellington Air Force Base, Texas. July, 1969.NASA/Getty Images 41 of 45A proud Jan Aldrin holds up a newspaper that reads, “Apollo Reaches the Moon.”
Houston, Texas. July 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 42 of 45Michael and Pat Collins enjoy breakfast together, in their home amid the preparation phase before the launch.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 43 of 45Neil Armstrong watches his wife and son play at home before the launch.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 44 of 45A relieved Joan Aldrin applauds as she watches the coverage of Apollo 11’s return to Earth.
Houston, Texas. July 24, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
1 of 45Joan Aldrin, overcome by emotion, lets out a sob of joy and relief as she learns of the successful completion of her husband’s mission.
Houston, Texas. July 1969.Lee Balterman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
2 of 45Back onboard after taking his first steps on the moon, Neil Armstrong gets ready for the journey home.
Apollo 11. July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons
3 of 45Jan Armstrong watches Apollo 11 launch skyward.
Cape Canaveral, Florida. July 16, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
4 of 45Down below on Earth, Joan Aldrin, Buzz’s wife, lies on the floor, unable to watch the television screen.
Houston, Texas. July 1969. Lee Balterman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
5 of 45The astronauts head off to the launch site.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.Wikimedia Commons
6 of 45Jan Armstrong, wife of Neil, crosses her fingers for good luck during the mission.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
7 of 45Mission Control passes out cigars and American flags to celebrate the mission’s successful completion.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 24, 1969.NASA/Flickr
8 of 45Apollo 11 astronauts (from left) Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin talk before their historic journey into space.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
9 of 45Jan Armstrong during her husband’s mission.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
10 of 45Buzz Aldrin exits the Lunar Module to become the second human to set foot on the moon.
July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons
11 of 45Jan Armstrong peers past the sun to watch her husband as he blasts off into space.
Cape Canaveral, Florida. July 16, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
12 of 45Neil Armstrong aboard Apollo 11.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons
13 of 45The astronauts, in quarantine after their trip into space, greet their wives for the first time since touching down.
USS Hornet. July 1969.SSPL/Getty Images
14 of 45Jan Armstrong and her sons, Mark (left) and Ricky, watch Apollo 11 take off from the deck of a boat.
Cape Canaveral, Florida. July 16, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
15 of 45Former President Lyndon Johnson and current Vice President Spiro Agnew watch the launch.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr
16 of 45Buzz Aldrin walks on the surface of the moon.
July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons
17 of 45Jan and Ricky Armstrong watch the reports come in.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
18 of 45Mission Control erupts in celebration after the crew returns to Earth.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 24, 1969.NASA/Flickr
19 of 45Jan Armstrong watches from a distance as her husband, Neil, discusses the preparations for the Apollo 11 launch with his fellow astronauts.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
20 of 45Apollo 11 waits on the launch pad.
Merritt Island, Florida. May 1969.NASA/Flickr
21 of 45The three astronaut’s wives, Joan Aldrin, Patricia Collins, and Jan Armstong, stand together the day before the launch.
Houston, Texas. July 18, 1969.Bettmann/Getty Images
22 of 45Mission control waits in tense anticipation for the countdown to begin.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.Wikimedia Commons
23 of 45A crowd gathers to watch the launch.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr
24 of 45The crowd at John F. Kennedy International Airport stop what they’re doing to watch televised coverage of the moon landing mission.
New York City, New York. July 20, 1969.CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images
25 of 45Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins on their way to a launch countdown test.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 1969.SSPL/Getty Images
26 of 45A tense NASA administrator George Mueller stands in the mission control room on the morning of the launch.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr
27 of 45Apollo 11 blasts off.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr
28 of 45Michael Collins at work inside Apollo 11.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons
29 of 45Buzz Aldrin aboard Apollo 11.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons
30 of 45Apollo 11 looks down on Earth from up among the stars.
July 1969.Wikimedia Commons
31 of 45Jan Armstrong and family watch the news reports from home, unable to do anything but pray as Neil soars into space.
El Lago, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
32 of 45Jan Armstrong looks over documents on the Apollo 11 mission as she waits to hear from her husband.
Houston, Texas. July 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
33 of 45The Lunar Module touches down on the moon.
July 20, 1969.Wikimedia Commons
34 of 45Patricia Collins and her daughters, Kate and Ann, excitedly watch the mission on TV.
Houston, Texas. July 1969.Bob Peterson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
35 of 45The launch control center begins to relax shortly after Apollo 11’s successful takeoff.
Merritt Island, Florida. July 16, 1969.NASA/Flickr
36 of 45A proud Pat Collins gives a press conference outside her home, shortly after the Apollo 11 crew lands on the moon.
Houston, Texas. July 20, 1969.Bettmann/Getty Images
37 of 45Jan Armstrong (center) and Apollo 11 backup commander Jim Lovell celebrate the mission’s successful completion.
El Largo, Texas. July 24, 1969.John Olson/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
38 of 45The crew of the USS Hornet help the astronauts get out of the Command Module.
Pacific Ocean (900 miles southwest of Hawaii). July 24, 1969.NASA/Flickr
39 of 45The ecstatic astronauts peer out of the window of the quarantine facility.
USS Hornet. July, 1969.LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
40 of 45Nail Armstrong, from inside quarantine, talks to his son.
Ellington Air Force Base, Texas. July, 1969.NASA/Getty Images
41 of 45A proud Jan Aldrin holds up a newspaper that reads, “Apollo Reaches the Moon.”
Houston, Texas. July 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
42 of 45Michael and Pat Collins enjoy breakfast together, in their home amid the preparation phase before the launch.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
43 of 45Neil Armstrong watches his wife and son play at home before the launch.
Houston, Texas. March 1969.Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
44 of 45A relieved Joan Aldrin applauds as she watches the coverage of Apollo 11’s return to Earth.
Houston, Texas. July 24, 1969.Vernon Merritt III/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
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The Apollo 11 Mission Through The Eyes Of The Astronauts And Their Families View Gallery
The Apollo 11 Mission Through The Eyes Of The Astronauts And Their Families View Gallery
The Apollo 11 Mission Through The Eyes Of The Astronauts And Their Families View Gallery
The Apollo 11 Mission Through The Eyes Of The Astronauts And Their Families View Gallery
The Apollo 11 Mission Through The Eyes Of The Astronauts And Their Families
View Gallery
It’s a part of the story that rarely gets told. We’ve all heard the moon landing as a story of heroism and human accomplishment — but for the people who loved the men onboard Apollo 11, it was something else altogether. The men they’d dedicated their lives to were on the verge of earning their eternal place in history — or of being wiped out in the dark chasm of space.
At the time, there was no guarantee that Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins would come home alive. President Nixon already had a speech prepared in the event that he had to tell the nation that the Apollo 11 crew would never come home.
The crew left home and blasted off on July 16, 1969 at 9:32 a.m. The whole world stopped. Crowds gathered near the launch site to catch a glimpse of the proceedings. People around the world stopped what they were doing to watch the news. And, on a small boat off the coast of Florida, Jan Armstrong and her sons, Mark and Ricky, watched Neil blast off into history.
They could do nothing but pray that he and the others would make it back safely. For them, this was a historic event, but also a human moment — a simple moment of worrying about someone they loved.
Over the next eight days, as Apollo 11 soared through space, every moment of the tension and the anguish and, finally, the relief of the families back on Earth was captured by LIFE Magazine photographers.
These photos — and those captured of the astronauts just before, during, and after the mission — reveal that the moon landing was more than just a moment in history, and it was more than just a moment for a nation. For both the people who knew Neil, “Buzz,” and Michael, as well as the astronauts themselves, it was a personal, human moment where there was more than just progress and patriotism on the line: There was family.
After this look at the moon landing, check out these images of the first animals in space and see exactly why so many people think that the moon landing was faked.
