Jul. 16-24, 1969: The first lunar landing mission, Apollo 11 lifted off on July 16, 1969, and after confirming that the hardware was working well began the three day trip to the Moon. At 4:18 p.m. EST on July 20, 1969, the Lunar Module with astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin landed on the lunar surface while Michael Collins orbited overhead in the Apollo command module.

After checkout, Armstrong set foot on the surface, telling the millions of listeners that it was "one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." Aldrin soon followed him out and the two plodded around the landing site in the 1/6 lunar gravity, planted an American flag but omitted claiming the land for the U.S. as had routinely been done during European exploration of the Americas, collected soil and rock samples, and set up some experiments. The next day they launched back to the Apollo capsule orbiting overhead and began the return trip to Earth, "splashing down" in the Pacific on July 24.

(Hear Live Audio Clip Of First Step On The Moon)