A rendering of Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 suit by artist Tom Sachs, based on the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal – one of several artist tributes to cultural icons who passed away in 2012.

Cargo: Moon Dust – a customs declaration for moon rocks and moon dust samples filled out by Neil Armstrong and his  team upon returning from the moon in 1969

(↬ this isn’t happiness)

Rare autographed photo of NASA test pilots, including original moonwalker Neil Armstrong (fifth from left), whom we lost last week and whom Wired celebrated as the ultimate test pilot.  

Public domain image from the San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives.

“Because of what you have done,” the President told the astronauts, “the heavens have become a part of man’s world. And as you talk to us from the Sea of Tranquility it required us to redouble our efforts to bring peace and tranquility to earth.”

Men Walk On Moon – the original New York Times moon landing front page story, July 21, 1969.

“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” On this day in 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon on the Apollo 11 lunar mission.

Half a century later, the future of space exploration is more precarious than ever, yet the sky is still calling us.