The lunar plaque
NASA / Neil Armstrong, 1969
A message the size of a hand, bolted to the only ladder off the Moon. They photographed it because the next visitor might be a very long time coming.
About this work
This close-up from July 20, 1969 shows the plaque the Apollo 11 crew left on the Moon to mark the first landing. It was fixed to the ladder on the landing-gear strut of the lunar module Eagle's descent stage, and it flew covered by a thin sheet of stainless steel; Armstrong uncovered it on the surface. The descent stage, plaque and all, stayed behind when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin lifted off in the ascent stage to rejoin Michael Collins in lunar orbit. The plaque shows the two hemispheres of the Earth and reads: "Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon, July 1969, A.D. We came in peace for all mankind." It carries the signatures of the three astronauts and of President Richard Nixon. Eagle, named after the bald eagle on the mission insignia, was the first crewed lunar lander, and its touchdown created Tranquility Base. The photograph was taken with a 70mm Hasselblad camera; NASA catalogues it as AS11-40-5899.
Sources: NASA Image and Video Library · Wikipedia: Apollo 11 · Wikipedia: Lunar Module Eagle
Print facts
- Native resolution
- 4,048 × 3,942 px
- Sharp at 150 ppi up to
- 26 × 26 in
- Sizes
- Small (20 × 19 in) · $100 · 202 ppi
Medium (24 × 23 in) · $150 · 169 ppi
Large (36 × 35 in) · $300 · 112 ppi - Price includes
- Frame and US shipping · 14–21 days · 30-day returns
FAQ
Where can I buy a framed print of The lunar plaque?
Here. The lunar plaque is available as a framed print in three sizes: Small (20 × 19 in) for $100, Medium (24 × 23 in) for $150 and Large (36 × 35 in) for $300. Prices include the frame and US shipping; delivery takes 14–21 days, with 30-day returns.
What size works best for The lunar plaque?
The file is 4,048 × 3,942 px. Medium (24 × 23 in) is the largest size that prints at 150 ppi or more (169 ppi), the sharpest choice for close viewing; Large (36 × 35 in) prints at 112 ppi, fine from a few feet away but softer up close.
Is it legal to print The lunar plaque?
Yes. NASA made this photograph, and NASA material is not protected by copyright in the United States unless noted, so it can be printed and sold. A print does not imply NASA endorsement, and NASA's logos and insignia are not covered.
