From The Archives: Apollo 11 Astronaut Erects S-Band Lunar Surface Antenna

Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong demonstrates the erection of the lunar surface deployable S-band antenna as lunar module pilot Edwin E. Aldrin works with lunar sampling equipment.

For the full deployment sequence, see pages 78 to 81.  

The antenna would be carried aboard the lunar module and scheduled to transport Armstrong and Aldrin to the surface of the Moon, but it is not scheduled to be erected during the relatively brief stay of the first lunar landing.  

The completely erected antenna would be capable of beaming television or other broadcasts directly to Earth from the Moon. 

See the cover of the May 5, 1969 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology.

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