[APOLLO 11] THE SURFACE OF THE MOON FROM THE LUNAR MODULE. VINTAGE NASA "RED NUMBER" PHOTOGRAPH, 20 July 1969.

The Vintage NASA Photo Collection of Philip Kulpa

[APOLLO 11] 

THE SURFACE OF THE MOON FROM THE LUNAR MODULE. 20 JULY 1969.

Vintage NASA “Red Number” chromogenic color photograph, 10 by 8 inches, “A Kodak Paper” watermark to verso. NASA image ID “NASA AS11-37-5437” printed in upper left margin in red; minor toning, signature to verso in blue ballpoint.

The present image depicts the LM's approach to Apollo Landing Site 2, located in the southwestern region of the Sea of Tranquility. Here, Site 2 is located right of center (at the edge of the darkness). 

On 8 February 1968, NASA's Apollo Site Selection Board announced five potential landing sites. These prospective sites were the product of two years of study of high-resolution photography. The landing site needed to be close to the lunar equator in order to minimize the amount of propellant required, clear of obstacles to keep complex maneuvering to a minimum, and flat to simplify the actual process of landing. The initial requirement that the site be free of craters had to be relaxed, as this proved impossible.