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LEAVING THE MOON

After a successful visit to the surface of the Moon, the first "lunar liftoff" takes place on July 21, 1969.

The LM "Eagle" lifts off from the landing platform on the Moon to rendezvous and dock with the Command Module.  People often forget that Mike Collins was orbiting the Moon in Columbia the entire time the world's attention was focused on Buzz and Neil. 

When Armstrong and Aldrin climbed into Columbia from Eagle, the LM was left behind in lunar orbit as Columbia returned to Earth.

 

Earth is seen over the horizon of the Moon.