Lunar plaques are stainless steel commemorative plaques measuring 9 by 7+5⁄8 inches (22.9 by 19.4 cm) attached to the ladders on the descent stages of the United States Apollo Lunar Modules flown on lunar landing missions Apollo 11 through Apollo 17, to be left permanently on the lunar surface. The plaques were originally suggested and designed by NASA's head of technical services Jack Kinzler, who oversaw their production.[1]
All of the plaques bear facsimiles of the participating astronauts' signatures. For this reason, an extra plaque had to be made for Apollo 13 due to the late replacement of one crew member. The first (Apollo 11) and last (Apollo 17) plaques bear a facsimile of the signature of Richard Nixon, President of the United States during the landings, along with references to the start and completion of "man's first explorations of the Moon" and expressions of peace "for all mankind".
All, except the Apollo 12 plaque (which is also textured differently), bear pictures of the two hemispheres of Earth. Apollo 17's plaque bears a depiction of the lunar globe in addition to the Earth. The plaques used on missions 13 through 16 bear the call-sign of each mission's Lunar Module. All the plaques were left on the Moon, except the two for the aborted Apollo 13 mission which did not land on the Moon.
Apollo 11 plaque, photographed by Neil Armstrong at Tranquility Base on the lunar surface[3]
Replica of the Apollo 12 plaque
Replica of the replacement Apollo 13 plaque, with Swigert's signature instead of Mattingly's; James Lovell has the original
Apollo 14 plaque
Imprint of the Apollo 15 plaque
Apollo 16 plaque, mounted in place
Apollo 17 plaque