Composite image of the Apollo 11 Moon plaque and the lunar surface. This is a copy of the commemorative plaque that was attached to a strut on the Apollo 11 landing module's landing gear. Apollo 11 was the first manned lunar landing mission, touching down on 20 July 1969. The lower section of the Eagle, together with the plaque, remained behind as the Eagle's upper stage separated and ascended to the command module in lunar orbit. The plaque shows maps of both of Earth's hemispheres, with a caption that says: 'Here Men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon, July 1969, A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.' It is signed by the three astronauts and by Richard Nixon, then president of the United States of America.