Life Magazine 4 August 1969

Life Magazine 4 August 1969

Life Magazine, Vol.47 No.3, from 4 August 1969, titled ‘Leaving For The Moon’. Apollo 11 touched down on the Lunar surface on 20 July 1969. This magazine includes articles looking back at the launch and speculating as to the results of the scientific experiments and sample collections that were part of the mission. Articles include ‘Apollo’s great leap for the Moon’, ‘To the Lunar surface for samples of a vastly complicated satellite’ and ‘What scientists hope Apollo 11 will tell them about the Moon’s origin, age and composition’.

Full page spreads of photographs of the launch with memories of the astronaut’s loved ones are also included, as well as images of the astronauts training for some of the things that they would do on the Lunar surface.

Life was an American magazine that ran until 2007. Time magazine founder, Henry Luce, purchased Life in 1936. Originally a general interest magazine, Luce converted Life to focus more on photojournalism. The Apollo programme and the Moon Landings became a big favourite for the magazine, as the astronauts sent back better and better quality images with every mission that went to the Moon.

Web resources

• NASA Apollo 11 Mission Page