16 July 1969
Apollo 11 launched from Kennedy Space Center aboard the powerful Saturn V rocket.
The historic NASA mission that carried the first humans to the surface of the Moon and marked one of humanity's greatest achievements in exploration.
ENTER THE ARCHIVE ↓A mission that transformed humanity's understanding of what was possible beyond Earth.
Apollo 11 launched from Kennedy Space Center aboard the powerful Saturn V rocket.
The lunar module Eagle landed in the Moon's Sea of Tranquility.
Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins formed the Apollo 11 crew.
The crew returned safely to Earth, completing humanity's first crewed lunar landing mission.
Apollo 11 was part of the United States' Apollo program, developed during the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union.
The Soviet Union had achieved several early milestones, including launching Sputnik 1 and sending Yuri Gagarin into space.
In 1961, U.S. President John F. Kennedy announced the ambitious goal of landing a person on the Moon and returning them safely to Earth before the end of the decade.
Years of scientific research, engineering and thousands of workers eventually made that goal possible.
Apollo 11 lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the Saturn V, one of the most powerful rockets ever constructed.
Each astronaut had a distinct role during the historic mission.
Commander of Apollo 11 and the first human to step onto the lunar surface.
Lunar module pilot who descended to the Moon's surface with Armstrong.
Command module pilot who remained in lunar orbit aboard Columbia while Armstrong and Aldrin explored the surface.
The critical stages of Apollo 11 from launch to its return to Earth.
Saturn V launched Apollo 11 from Kennedy Space Center on its journey toward the Moon.
Apollo 11 entered lunar orbit after traveling approximately 240,000 miles from Earth.
Armstrong and Aldrin descended in the lunar module Eagle and landed in the Sea of Tranquility.
Armstrong became the first human to step onto the lunar surface, followed by Aldrin.
Armstrong and Aldrin lifted off from the lunar surface and reunited with Collins in lunar orbit.
The command module Columbia returned to Earth and splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean.
The lunar module Eagle touched down in the Sea of Tranquility. The landing marked the first successful crewed landing on another world.
The astronauts conducted experiments and collected lunar material for scientific study.
Armstrong and Aldrin collected samples of lunar rocks and soil for scientists on Earth.
Scientific instruments were deployed to study the lunar environment and interior.
Photographs documented the lunar surface, equipment and activities of the astronauts.
A laser-ranging retroreflector was left on the Moon and continues to support measurements of the Earth–Moon distance.
The enormous launch vehicle provided the power required to send Apollo 11 from Earth toward the Moon.
The command module carried the astronauts to lunar orbit and back to Earth.
The lunar module carried Armstrong and Aldrin between lunar orbit and the surface.
Teams at NASA's Mission Control in Houston monitored the mission and supported the crew.
After leaving lunar orbit, Apollo 11 traveled back toward Earth. The crew successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, completing the historic mission.
Apollo 11 demonstrated that humans could travel to another world and return safely to Earth.
The mission became a defining achievement of the Space Age and inspired generations of scientists, engineers and explorers.
The Apollo program continued with additional crewed lunar missions, expanding scientific knowledge of Earth's nearest celestial neighbor.
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