The pioneering "one small step" taken by Neil A Armstrong (38): picture via television by Apollo lunar surface camera, black bar through center of picture is anomaly in the Goldstone ground data system (NASA photo ID S69-42583)
Armstrong's first footprint (70mm lens). The prints left by the astronauts in the Sea of Tranquility are more permanent than many solid structures on Earth. Barring a chance meteorite impact, these impressions in the lunar soil will probably last for millions of years. The impression, about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) deep, demonstrates the fineness and cohesiveness of the lunar soil. (NASA photo ID AS11-40-5877&78)
Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin (39) joined Armstrong on the surface less than fifteen minutes later, in this photo taken by Armstrong. As he left the LM, Aldrin said, "Now I want to partially close the hatch, making sure not to lock it on my way out." "A good thought." replied Armstrong (NASA photo ID AS11-40-5868)
Buzz Aldrin's first footprint
More moonwalk audio & video- "I was strolling on the Moon one day" (Apollo 17, 4.0MB)
- Dave Scott performs experiment to prove a Galilean theory (Apollo 15, 485 Kb)
- Dave Scott's first step..."Man Must Explore" (Apollo 15, 180 Kb)
- Astronaut jumps and salutes flag (Apollo 16, 2.4MB)
- Schmitt takes a spill (Apollo 17, 2.0MB)
- Cernan bounds across the moon (Apollo 17, 2.2MB)
- Astronaut walks from LM to Rover (Apollo 17, 3.3MB)
- Astronaut walks by Lunar Module (Apollo 16, 0.8MB)
were and what we were doing at that time. Unfortunately, there was no one in a good position to photograph the moment.
I talked with Neil for quite a while before I started this painting. I wanted to know which rung he was holding with his right hand as he stepped off the ladder with his
left foot, and exactly where on the landing pad was his right foot? He paused, then asked me the same two questions about my first step some 4 months later. I told
him I didn't know. He said, "Well!" We agreed that there were some details we just couldn't remember from our missions.
In this painting, I show Neil shifting his weight from his right foot, which is resting on the lunar module landing pad, to his left on the Moon. This would be considered
the first human footprint on the Moon. "...one small step for man..." He would then shift his weight back to his right foot, still on the landing pad, lift his left foot and
make some technical observations about the historic footprint.
As the centuries unfold, there will be first steps on Mars and other celestial bodies. They will be much farther away than our Moon, but none will ever be a more giant
leap for humankind than the one made by Neil Armstrong and all the people when helped him make that leap on July 20, 1969.
Al Bean 1995, 18 x 14.25 inches, Acrylic on Aircraft Board
