248. [Apollo 11] MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION: Buzz Aldrin standing on the LM Eagle footpad before making humanity's first steps on another world Neil Armstrong, 16–24 July 1969 Printed 1969. Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS11-40-5869]. With editorial annotations and "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse, numbered "NASA AS11-40-5869" in red in the top margin (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas). 20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.) Historical context Buzz Aldrin takes in the extraordinary moment and moonscape before his first step on the Moon. Before stepping onto the lunar surface, Buzz Aldrin paused for a crucial test. With both feet on the footpad of the Lunar Module Eagle, he attempted to jump up to the bottom rung of the ladder—a precautionary check to ensure re-entry into the spacecraft would be possible after exploration. Though he missed on his first try, he succeeded on the second, proving that astronauts could climb back into the LM without difficulty. Back on the footpad, just moments before joining Neil Armstrong in humanity's first Moonwalk, Aldrin took in the stark lunar landscape. Marvelling at the surreal world before him, he famously declared: "Beautiful view! Magnificent desolation." From the mission transcript when the photograph was taken: 109:42:53 Aldrin: Okay. Now I think I'll do the same (garbled) [Aldrin tries to jump up to the bottom rung and doesn't quite make it on the first try.] 109:43:01 Armstrong: A little more. About another inch. [Aldrin jumps up to the bottom rung.] 109:43:06 Armstrong: There, you've got it. 109:43:08 Aldrin: That's a good (last) step. 109:43:10 Armstrong: Yeah. About a 3-footer. [Aldrin jumps back down to the footpad.] 109:43:16 Aldrin: Beautiful view! 109:43:18 Armstrong: Isn't that something! Magnificent sight out here. 109:43:24 Aldrin: Magnificent desolation. Literature LIFE, 11 August 1969, National Geographic, December 1969, pp. 738-739 LIFE, 8 August 1969, p. 20 Moon: Man's Greatest Adventure, Thomas, ed., p. 193