| The Apollo 11 landing site in "Mare
Tranquillitatis" (Sea of Silence or Tranquility) was one of three sites selected for the first lunar
landing from a list of 30 sites originally under consideration. Final site
choices were based on the following factors listed at right: |
- Smoothness: Relatively few craters and boulders
- Approach: No large hills, high cliffs, or deep craters
that could cause incorrect altitude signals to the lunar module
landing radar
- Propellant Requirements: The least expenditure of
spacecraft propellants
- Recycle: Effective launch preparation recycling if the
Apollo Saturn V countdown is delayed
- Free Return: Within reach of the spacecraft launched on a
free-return translunar trajectory
- Slope: Less than 2° slope in the approach path and landing
site
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