377 a
This view of the full Moon never seen before the space age was taken with the 80mm lens as the Apollo 11 spacecraft was 2,600 nautical miles (4,900 km) from the Moon (and not 10,000 miles contrary to the original NASA caption).
The Moon is centered on a point between the Sea of Crisis and the Sea of Fertility.
Twenty-four Apollo astronauts were the only men in history to witness such views of the Moon, in a perspective different than from Earth, from December 1968 to December 1972.
“It really does appear that there are three different Moons. One that you’re on, one that you’re in orbit of, and one that’s a long way away. And they don’t blend, and you don’t get the transition. There was only one exception to it, and that was shortly after we left the Moon, heading back to Earth, after we made the burn and it was okay. Then we could orient and look back and watch it grow smaller, from the back side... And that was the only time when we were really allowed to experience the change,” said Buzz Aldrin (Chaikin, Voices, p. 119).
377 b
A still from the homeward journey’s TV transmission. Buzz Aldrin illustrates zero gravity experiments. When this picture was made, Apollo 11 was approximately 157,000 nautical miles from Earth, traveling at a speed of about 4,300 feet per second.
155:44:57 Aldrin: On this flight we’ve carried along pieces of bread, and along with the bread we have a ham spread. And I’ll show you, I hope, how easy it is to spread some ham [pause] while I’m in zero g.
377 c
In their final television transmission from the spacecraft, the crew of Apollo 11 commented on the historic significance of their voyage.
Apollo 11 was 93,000 nautical miles (172,000 km) from Earth.
177:32:24 Armstrong: Good evening. This is the Commander of Apollo 11. A hundred years ago, Jules Verne wrote a book about a voyage to the Moon. His spaceship, Columbia, took off from Florida and landed in the Pacific Ocean after completing a trip to the Moon. It seems appropriate to us to share with you some of the reflections of the crew as the modern-day Columbia completes its rendezvous with the planet Earth and the same Pacific Ocean tomorrow. First, Mike Collins. [...]
177:34:44 Collins: This operation is somewhat like the periscope of a submarine. All you see is the three of us, but beneath the surface are thousands and thousands of others, and to all those, I would like to say, thank you very much. [...]
177:38:20 Aldrin:This has been far more than three men on a voyage to the Moon. More, still, than the efforts of a government and industry team. More, even, than the efforts of one nation. We feel that this stands as a symbol of the insatiable curiosity of all mankind to explore the unknown.