Page 35 - The Appollo Story

The Apollo Story

Apollo 11 (AS-506) Off To The Moon
At least a million awestruck people throng the length of Cocoa Beach in Florida, near the launch site, to
watch Apollo 11 lift-off on 16th July 1969 at 13.32.00 UT.

The Apollo 11 mission ms1gnia was de-
signed by Collins, who wanted a symbol for
"peaceful lunar landing by the United
States." He chose an eagle as the symbol,
put an olive branch in its beak, and drew a
lunar background with the Earth in the dis-
tance. NASA officials said the talons of the
eagle looked too "warlike" and after some
discussion, the olive branch was moved to
the claws. The crew decided the Roman nu-
meral XI would not be understood in some
nations and went with "Apollo 11;" they de-
cided not to put their names on the patch, so
it would "be representative of everyone who
had worked toward a lunar landing." All
colours are natural, with blue and gold bor-
ders around the patch. When the Eisen-
hower dollar coin was released a few years
later, the patch design provided the eagle
for its reverse side. The design was retained
for the smaller Susan B. Anthony dollar
which was unveiled in 1979, ten years after
the Apollo 11 mission.

OFF TO IHE MOON

C. SARZIN
PERFECT LAUNCHING PORT WASHINGTON
OF APOLLO 11 L. I., NEW YORK