What was Lunar Module Eagle and what was its designation?
Lunar Module Eagle was designated LM-5. It was the first crewed spacecraft to carry humans to the surface of the Moon, flying as part of the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.
Questions about Lunar Module Eagle
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Where did Lunar Module Eagle land on the Moon?
Eagle landed at Tranquility Base on the 20th of July, 1969, at 20:17:40 UTC. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin announced the site name for the first time at the moment of touchdown.
Who piloted Lunar Module Eagle during the Apollo 11 mission?
Neil Armstrong piloted Eagle to the lunar surface, with navigational assistance from Buzz Aldrin. Michael Collins remained in lunar orbit aboard Command Module Columbia.
How much fuel did Lunar Module Eagle have remaining when it landed on the Moon?
Eagle touched down with 216 pounds of usable fuel remaining. That narrow margin separated a successful landing from an aborted approach.
What is the origin of the phrase 'The Eagle has landed'?
Neil Armstrong said 'The Eagle has landed' at the moment Eagle touched down on the Moon on the 20th of July, 1969. The phrase drew on the spacecraft's name, which came from the bald eagle shown prominently on the Apollo 11 mission insignia.
What happened to Lunar Module Eagle after the Apollo 11 crew left?
After Armstrong and Aldrin rejoined Michael Collins aboard Columbia, Eagle's ascent stage was abandoned in lunar orbit. Research into its projected orbital path, published as recently as 2021, suggests the spacecraft may still be in orbit. No confirmed impact location on the Moon's surface has ever been found.