1969: When Men Walked on the Moon

It was on this day in 1969 when Apollo 11, the first spaceflight that landed humans on the moon, began its journey from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Kennedy, Florida. The trip was taken by Commander Neil Armstrong, pilot Buzz Aldrin and command module pilot, Michael Collins. The spacecraft, the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle, landed on the moon on July 20. Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon the next day which was broadcast live on TV and he stated, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Aldin joined him a few minutes later and together they got their steps in that day wandering around the moon’s surface for just over two hours. Meanwhile, Collins flew the Command Module Columbia in orbit who said later of the experience, “Not since Adam has any human known such solitude.” The three men had their splashdown back to earth on July 24^th. (Image: Wikimedia)