Details
362 a
Neil Armstrong

Tranquillity Base seen on the way back from Little West Crater

Apollo 11, July 16-24, 1969, 111:13:30 GET

Unreleased photograph, vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso, numbered “NASA AS11-40-5962” (NASA MSC) in red in top margin

362 b
Neil Armstrong

Buzz Aldrin taking core samples of the lunar surface

Apollo 11, July 16-24, 1969, 111:15:13 GET

Vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso [NASA AS11-40-5964]

362 c
Neil Armstrong

View of the lunar surface before returning inside the LM Eagle

Apollo 11, July 16-24, 1969, 111:27:05 GET

Unreleased photograph, USGS (United States Geological Survey) vintage gelatin silver “proof” print on fiber-based paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), numbered “AS11-40-5968” in margin
20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in)
Literature
362 b
Thomas, p.198; Jacobs, p.58.
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Lot Essay

362 a
The U.S. flag, the Solar Wind Collector and the TV camera are clearly visible.

Aldrin (not visible) is working at the MESA. About the time that Armstrong will get back to the LM, making his way around the south side of the spacecraft, Aldrin will move away from the MESA carrying the first core tube out to a spot near the Solar Wind Collector.

362 b
This is the last photograph of Aldrin before he returned inside the LM Eagle.

Aldrin has just “struck a glancing blow on the top of the extension handle which, in turn, is attached to the top of the core tube. He is using the flat of the hammer” (ALSJ caption for AS11-40-5964).
The Solar Wind Collector is visible just beyond the core tube.

“I picked up the hammer, went out in the vicinity of where the Solar Wind Experiment was, and drove the first core tube into the ground. I pushed it in about 3 or 4 inches and then started tapping it with the hammer. I found that wasn’t doing much at all in the way of making it penetrate further. I started beating on it harder and harder, and I managed to get it into the ground maybe 2 inches more. I found that, when I would hit it as hard as I could and let my hand that was steadying the tube release it, the tube appeared as though it were going to fall over. It didn’t stay where it had been pounded in. This made it harder, because you couldn’t back off and really let it have it”, said Aldrin (1969 Technical Debrief, from the ALSJ mission transcript at 111:15:35 GET).

111:15:13 Aldrin: (To Houston) I hope you’re watching how hard I have to hit this into the ground, to the tune of about 5 inches, Houston.
111:15:22 McCandless (Mission Control): Roger.

“I picked up the hammer, went out in the vicinity of where the solar wind experiment was, and drove the first core tube into the ground.”
Buzz Aldrin

362 c
Armstrong took this incidental photograph (originally shot on color film) to advance the film before removing the magazine in order to avoid getting any of the EVA images sunstruck.
Aldrin was already in the LM waiting for Armstrong to transfer items (including the Hasselblad film but not the camera itself) to the cabin.

Astronauts’ footprints near the LM ladder are in the foreground. The pole of the Solar Wind Experiment (whose aluminium foil was retrieved by Aldrin after 77 minutes exposure) is visible with the TV camera at the extreme left.

“During this first visit to the Moon, the astronauts remained within about 100 meters of the LM, collected about 47 pounds of samples, and deployed four experiments. After spending approximately 2 hours and 31 minutes on the surface, the astronauts ended the EVA at 1:11:13 a.m. EDT on July 21” (http://www.lpi.usra.edu/ lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_11/surface_opp/).

111:27:05 Aldrin: Get the film off of the (Hasselblad)...
111:27:08 Armstrong: I will. (Pause) Pick that up (that is, take care of the task) now.

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