1,407 images over 195 hours of travel to the Moon
Fifty years ago, on 24 July 1969, the three men of the Apollo 11 mission returned to Earth after 195 hours and 19 minutes of travel. They brought back with them 1,407 photographs.
Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin set off on 16 July 1969 on an extraordinary journey: to land on the Moon. On board with them, four cameras from the famous Swedish brand Hasselblad. From this journey they brought back 1,407 photographs — 857 in black & white and 550 in colour.
All the photos are available on the following site: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/apollo/catalog/70mm/mission/?11
In orbit and on the Moon
The photos cover every phase of the mission: lift-off, the journey to the Moon, the 2h 31min moonwalk, and the return to Earth.
Beyond the iconic images of Earthrise or the footprint on the lunar surface, these images tell the story of a journey with ordinary shots — but in an extraordinary setting. No cows along the motorway or portraits of kids squabbling in the back of the car.
A bit blurry, but the spacesuit saves the shot. For a photo taken through the window, pretty impressive! Rodin's Thinker in zero gravity! Classier than the youngest's electric scooter. 70mm is a bit short, but apparently baggage weight was more strictly monitored than on an Easy Jet flight. A bin bag, sure — but on the Moon. No comment. Classier than a tuned Laguna estate, that's for sure!
A bit blurry, but the spacesuit saves the shot. For a photo taken through the window, pretty impressive! Rodin's Thinker in zero gravity! Classier than the youngest's electric scooter. 70mm is a bit short, but apparently baggage weight was more strictly monitored than on an Easy Jet flight. A bin bag, sure — but on the Moon. No comment. Classier than a tuned Laguna estate, that's for sure!
It's certain that, even if the photos aren't amazing in terms of composition, the subjects make the three astronauts exceptional photographers!
907X Special Edition
For this fiftieth anniversary, Hasselblad is releasing a commemorative camera: the 907X Special Edition.
The 907X Special Edition includes the CFV II 50C digital back and the 907X body in matte black, just like the HEC used by Collins that he brought back to Earth. On the digital back is the text "On the moon since 1969," commemorating the HDCs and HECs left on the lunar surface fifty years ago. Together, the CFV II 50C and 907X connect Hasselblad's history into a single system.
More about Apollo 11
- Crew: N. Armstrong, M. Collins and B. Aldrin.
- Launch date: 16 July 1969 (50 years ago)
- Launch site: Kennedy Space Center
- Landing date: 24 July 1969
- Landing site: Pacific Ocean — 13° 30′ N, 169° 15′ W
- Duration: 195 h 18 min 35 s
- Lunar landing date: 20 July 1969 at 20:17:40 UTC
- Lunar landing site: Sea of Tranquillity
- Lunar rocks collected: 21.55 kilograms
- EVA duration: 2 hours 31 minutes
- Distance walked: 1 km