The first images of the Apollo moon landing sites showing the lunar module on the moon’s surface have been sent back by Nasa’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera has taken images of five of the six Apollo sites and will photograph the remaining site in the coming weeks.

The LRO will help Nasa identify safe landing sites for manned missions, locate potential resources, characterise the moon’s radiation environment and demonstrate new technologies.

Other visible impressions include the landing sites of subsequent Apollo missions as well as footprints and wheelbarrow tracks left by astronauts

The images were received after the satellite reached its final mapping orbit and future images will have a higher resolution.