raising the American flag on the moon
(APOLLO 11.) ARMSTRONG, NEIL and BUZZ ALDRIN. Armstrong and Aldrin raising the U.S. flag on the Moon’s surface
NASA, [1969]
7 ½ x 9 ¼ in. visible dimensions. Color photographic print. Excellent condition. Archivally matted and framed with an Apollo 11 first day cover signed by the Apollo 11 crew (see below).
Signed by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, the first two men on the Moon. This image was taken by the Maurer Data Acquisition Camera (DAC, pronounced “dak”). The DAC made films through the Lunar Module Pilot’s window during the approach and landing of the LM and took stop motion photographs during the EVA at the rate of one frame per second.
The photograph shows Armstrong and Aldrin raising the American flag on the Moon about 27 feet from the centerline of Eagle. Aldrin reported that the Apollo 11 flag was blown over by the blast of the rocket exhaust during takeoff.
Congress subsequently passed a bill declaring that the placement of the flag on the Moon “is intended as a symbolic gesture of national pride in achievement and is not to be construed as a declaration of national appropriation by claim of sovereignty.”
Signed photographs of Armstrong and Aldrin on the lunar surface are scarce. Armstrong operated the handheld camera on the Moon’s surface. Thus in signed Apollo 11 lunar surface photographs, Aldrin is almost invariably the only person shown (other than reflections catching glimpses of Armstrong).
framed with:
Signed by the Apollo 11 crew
(ARMSTRONG, NEIL et al.) Apollo 11 First Day Cover signed by Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. [Houston], 1969. 8-cent Apollo 8 “In the Beginning God …” postage stamp, Houston July 20, 1969 cancellation. NASA Manned Spacecraft Center Stamp Club with small mission emblem cachet. Fine condition.
Signed by the crew of Apollo 11, the first manned mission to the Moon: Neil Armstrong (commander), Buzz Aldrin (lunar module pilot), and Michael Collins (command module pilot).
$32,000