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Peace on Moon On July 16, 1969, a massive Saturn V rocket lifted off from Earth – launching Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin on their way to the moon. Their Command Module was named "Columbia," after Jules Verne's fictional canon (Columbiad) that shot a projectile-like ship to the moon. Their Lunar Module was named "Eagle." "Houston, Tranquility base here. The eagle has landed." On July 20th, Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the lunar surface, in an area called the "Sea of Tranquility." The two men exited Eagle for 2 ½ hours to walk on the moon, becoming the first humans ever to do so. One of the things they did was to place a golden olive branch on the lunar surface. Gold Olive Branch Left on the Moon "This is the gold replica of an olive branch, the traditional symbol of peace, left on the Moon's surface by Apollo 11 crew members. Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, placed the small replica (less than half a foot in length) on the Moon. The gesture represented a wish for peace for all mankind." – NASA After nearly 22 hours at Tranquility Base, the two astronauts launched up in Eagle to rejoin Columbia in orbit around the moon. Eagle's descent stage remains on the moon. It has a plaque with the inscription: "Here Men From Planet Earth First Set Foot Upon the Moon. July 1969 A.D. We Came In Peace For All Mankind." Try that with a turkey, Ben Franklin (or with a dove, Picasso)! Meanwhile, back on Earth, the emblem of the United Nations features the planet surrounded by "a wreath consisting of crossed conventionalized branches of the olive tree, in gold on a field of smoke-blue with all water areas in white. The projection of the map extends to 60 degrees south latitude, and includes five concentric circles."

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