"Apollo 11 astronauts leave their rescue helicopter aboard the USS Hornet following their recovery in the Pacific Ocean."
An excellent description:
"Once lowered to Hangar Bay 2 of the Hornet, Sea King no. 66 was towed to a spot adjacent to the NASA Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF). The astronauts are still wearing BIG suits, and happy their next ten steps will be on more solid ground. The first to exit is Michael Collins, second is Neil Armstrong, and third is "Buzz" Aldrin. Still in the helo behind Aldrin is NASA flight surgeon Bill Carpentier. On the near side of the steps, in the dark suit, is Dr. Don Stullken, NASA Recovery Team Leader. On the forward part of the helicopter is AWHC Stanley Robnett, preparing to quickly close the cargo hatch door."
...and a bunch more GREAT stuff, at:
www.navsource.org/archives/02/cv-12/12ha.htm
lastly:
"The Apollo 11 mission, the first manned lunar mission, launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida via the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) developed Saturn V launch vehicle on July 16, 1969 and safely returned to Earth on July 24, 1969. Aboard the space craft were astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, Command Module (CM) pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module (LM) pilot. The CM, piloted by Michael Collins remained in a parking orbit around the Moon while the LM, named “Eagle’’, carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, landed on the Moon. During 2½ hours of surface exploration, the crew collected 47 pounds of lunar surface material for analysis back on Earth. Shown here are the three astronauts (L-R) Aldrin, Armstrong, and Collins leaving the recovery helicopter aboard the U.S.S. Hornet after their splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Wearing biological isolation garments donned before leaving the spacecraft, the three went directly into the Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) on the aircraft carrier. The MQF served as their home for 21 days following the mission. With the success of Apollo 11, the national objective to land men on the Moon and return them safely to Earth had been accomplished."
The above per 'official' online NASA description at:
images.nasa.gov/details-6901225.html
Great MQF reading:
www.jonessite.net/upload/LRD/stories/MQF.pdf
Credit: Mr. Jones wonderful website
