266. [Apollo 11] LM EAGLE'S FOOTPAD AND HUMANITY'S FIRST IMPRINTS IN LUNAR SOIL Buzz Aldrin, 16-24 July 1969 Printed 1969. Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS11-40-5917]. Numbered "NASA AS11-40-5917" in red in the top margin, with "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas). 20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.) Historical context First contact—Eagle's footpad and humanity's first steps on another world. While inspecting the Lunar Module, Buzz Aldrin took this close-up photograph of Eagle's footpad resting on the surface at Tranquillity Base, with its contact probe clearly visible. Nearby, the first human footprints on another world reinforce the profound historical weight of this image—humanity's presence in an otherwise untouched landscape. This very rare Apollo 11 photograph, unpublished at the time, symbolizes the moment when Eagle touched down, marking one of the greatest milestones in exploration—the first successful human landing beyond Earth. Aldrin's inspection focused on the landing gear—struts, footpads, and contact probes—while also assessing the effects of the engine exhaust and the footpad's impact on the lunar surface. The gold-coloured thermal insulation and the contact probe contrast with the fine lunar regolith, visibly disturbed by the landing. The long shadow stretching across the surface serves as a stark reminder of the Moon's airless environment and the low-angle sunlight near the landing site. From the mission transcript when the photograph was taken: 110:47:18 Aldrin: It's very surprising, the very surprising lack of penetration of all four of the foot pads. I'd say if we were to try and determine just how far below the surface they would have penetrated, you'd measure (depths of) two or three inches, wouldn't you say, Neil? 110:47:37 Armstrong: At the most, yes. That Y-strut there is probably even less than that. (Long Pause) 110:48:05 Aldrin: (Going east of the strut) I'll get a picture of the plus-Y strut taken from near the descent stage, and I think we'll be able to see a little bit better what the thermal effects are. Seem to be quite minimal.