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Rocketdyne's artist concept depicting the firing of the ascent engine as the Apollo 11 Lunar Module (LM) ascent stage is launched from the surface of the moon. The descent stage serves as a launch base and remains on the lunar surface. Inside the LM are astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot. Astronaut Michael Collins, command module pilot, remains with the Command and Service Modules (CSM) in lunar orbit while Armstrong and Aldrin explore the moon. The LM ascent stage from the lunar surface and place it in proper trajectory for rendezvous with the CSM. Rocketdyne, a division of North American Rockwell Corporation, is the subcontractor for the LM ascent engine. Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, Bethpage, New York, is the LM prime contractor.