291. [Apollo 12] ALAN BEAN CLIMBING DOWN THE LM INTREPID LADDER TO MAKE HIS FIRST STEP ON THE MOON Pete Conrad, 14-24 November 1969, EVA 1 Printed 1969. Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS12-46-6726]. With "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse, numbered "NASA AS12-46-6726" 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 Pete Conrad took great care in beautifully capturing the arrival of the fourth astronaut on the lunar surface (see mission transcript). Alan Bean prepares to descend the final steps of the Intrepid's ladder. The TV camera is visible at the lower left of the Modular Equipment Stowage Assembly (MESA), pointed at the bottom of the ladder. In the background, beyond the Lunar Module, lies the southern rim of Surveyor Crater. This image is a testament to the human presence on the Moon—one of only a handful of moments in history when a human being took their first steps on another world. "The first frames of Apollo 12's magazine 46/Y by Alan Bean of Pete Conrad offer the most distinctive sequence of an Apollo astronaut descending the Lunar Module to the surface of the Moon of any of the six manned landings." —Steven Dick, former NASA chief historian From the mission transcript when the photograph was taken: 115:49:08 Bean: Okay, Pete, here I come. 115:49:11 Conrad: Wait; wait; wait; wait. 115:49:13 Bean: You ready now? 115:49:14 Conrad: No, no, no, no. Let me come. Dum dee dum dum dum. Got to run through this (small) crater. Here I come. Now, wait a minute. (Reading his checklist) "LM(P) egress [photography] at (f/)5.6 at 15 (foot focus)." I made a shambles of that colour chart. I tried to throw it in the ground; and, naturally, it went in sideways and got itself so covered with dirt, you wouldn't know what colour it was. (Pause) Okay; I'm ready for you. 115:49:43 Bean: Okay, you might want to give me some directions, too. 115:50:57 Bean: (To himself) There you go. (To Pete) I'm going to try to keep the door open for us, there. 115:51:03 Conrad: Okay. (Pause) 115:51:13 Bean: Pretty good; I'd better get my visor down, though. 115:51:15 Conrad: Yes, sir. My, that Sun is bright. (Pause) 115:51:27 Bean: Boy, the LM looks nice on the outside.