Image: NASA, via designnews.com.
In 1969 on this date, in the early morning hours, 8 days, 3 hours, 18 minutes, and 18 seconds after leaving Kennedy Space Center, Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia plopped down into the Pacific Ocean about 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) south of Johnston Island. Later, the astronauts changed into clean flight suits and entered a mobile quarantine facility for two weeks; at the large window at the rear of the quarantine facility, they accepted the nation’s congratulations from President Richard M. Nixon.