Launch: July 16, 1969; 09:32:00 am EDT. Launch Complex 39-A Kennedy Space Center, FL. No launch delays.
The splashdown May 26, 1969, of Apollo 10 cleared the way for the first formal attempt at a manned lunar landing. Six days before, the Apollo 11 launch vehicle and spacecraft half crawled from the VAB and trundled at 0.9 mph to Pad 39-A. A successful countdown test ending on July 3 showed the readiness of machines, systems, and people. The next launch window (established by lighting conditions at the landing site on Mare Tranquillitatis) opened at 9:32 AM EDT on July 16, 1969.
EAGLE: 540 feet, down at 30 [feet per second] . . . down at 15 . . .
400 feet down at 9 . . . forward . . . 350 feet, down at 4 . . . 300
feet, down 3 1/2 . . . 47 forward . . . 1 1/2 down . . . 13 forward
. . . 11 forward? coming down nicely . . .200 feet, 4 1/2 down . . .
5 1/2 down . . . 5 percent . . . 75 feet . . . 6 forward ... lights on
. . . down 2 1/2 . . . 40 feet? down 2 1/2, kicking up some dust . . .
30 feet, 2 1/2 down . . . faint shadow . . . 4 forward . . . 4 forward
. . . drifting to right a little . . . O.K. . . .
HOUSTON: 30 seconds [fuel remaining].
EAGLE: Contact light! O.K., engine stop . . . descent engine command override off. . .
HOUSTON: We copy you down, Eagle.
EAGLE: Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed!