282. [Apollo 11] SPLASHDOWN OF CM COLUMBIA: humanity's historic first return from the surface of another world NASA, 24 July 1969 Printed 1969. Vintage gelatin silver print on fibre-based paper [NASA image S-69-21137]. Numbered "NASA S-69-21137" in black in the top margin (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas). 20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.). Historical context After completing the most extraordinary voyage in human history, Apollo 11's Command Module Columbia splashed down just 13 miles from USS Hornet, 900 miles southeast of Hawaii. The historic recovery operation was carried out by a formidable fleet: 9,000 personnel, nine ships, and 54 aircraft, all led by USS Hornet, waiting to retrieve the astronauts from the Pacific Ocean. After traveling 1,534,832 km (953,054 miles) over 8 days, 3 hours, 18 minutes, and 35 seconds, Columbia had successfully returned the first explorers of another world home.