Since the Gemini 5 mission, all NASA missions man and unmanned have been designed to commemorate a particular mission. The astronauts create a visual symbol that embodies the spirit, purpose, and vision of their mission. This authentic patch, designed by the Apollo 11 Crew Members, was used to commemorate their mission to the moon. The Eagle on the patch signifies the landing of the Lunar Excursion Module The Eagle with the olive branch representing peace as one of the memorials flown on the Apollo 11 mission. All three stages of the Saturn V fired normally and on time. The Command Service Module (CSM) separated, turned and docked with the Lunar Module (LM). A single spacecraft firing was utilized to escape Earth orbit and set a course to the Moon. In the vicinity of the Moon, the crew sent back a 29-minute color TV transmission. The Commander and the LM pilot undocked the LM and descended to the Moons surface, landing on the Sea of Tranquility on July 20, at 4:17 PM EDT. Six hours later at 10:55 PM EDT, Neil Armstrong became the worlds first human to walk on the Moon. He deployed a television camera and the event was seen by an estimated half-billion people on Earth. The astronauts collected Moon rock samples and conducted scientific experiments. They also talked "live" to President Nixon. Lift-off from the Moon occurred on Monday, July 21 at 1:54 PM EST. Rendezvous with the CSM was accomplished and, after jettisoning the LM ascent stage,
the CSM fired its engine to return to the Earth. Six additional live TV transmissions were made on the return trip home. Splashdown occurred July 24 in mid-Pacific after a flight of 195 hours, 18 minutes (eight days, three hours, 18 minutes).