HOUSTON, Texas Show For all eternity, the US will lay claim to being the first country to put a man on the moon. Fifty-three years ago, on July 20, 1969, NASA spacecraft Apollo 11 landed on the moon with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins aboard. All three became iconic figures around the world, with Armstrong becoming the first human to set foot on the moon's surface. "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," he exclaimed on that glorious day. "Obviously, firsts are usually the ones we remember the most, and Neil’s accomplishment certainly ranks among the most notable firsts of all time," said Brian Odom, the US space agency’s acting chief historian. "His calm, cool demeanor during the mission also became legendary and made him the subject of many documentaries, films, and stories." "The reaction to Apollo 11 was tremendous both in the US and internationally," Odom told Anadolu Agency. "Once the astronauts returned home, they became instant celebrities, as the landing was understood to be one of the greatest of humanity's accomplishments." Space Race The triumph of that historic day was the result of the US battling the Soviet Union during the 20th century in what became known as the Space Race. "In May 1961, President John F. Kennedy committed the US to the Moon program. The decision followed a series of notable firsts for the Soviets, including Sputnik in 1957 and Yuri Gagarin’s orbital flight in April 1961," Odom explained. "At the time, the Cold War magnified these defeats, as communism and democracy were locked in what appeared to many to be an existential battle around the world." This competition between the two global giants propelled both countries to press forward with the Space Race with the goal of letting the world know which nation was number one. That meant countless resources being poured into NASA's space program. "Kennedy believed technological achievements were important to the Cold War race but also that the investment in the Apollo program would have implications back home in terms of national capabilities in research and development," said Odom. "Kennedy believed this investment would also have implications on the American economy and society. The success of Apollo 11 in 1969 was the culmination of that process." That first mission to the moon intensified America's focus on the space program and immediately impacted the scientific community worldwide. Shuttle, Hubble, Mars Rover "More missions returned to the lunar surface, expanding science and exploration," Odom explained. "These accomplishments allowed the US and international partners to build upon that success by returning to low Earth orbit to understand the microgravity environment, planetary science, astrophysics, and Earth science." Less than three years after the US put the first person on the moon, President Richard Nixon declared in 1972 that NASA would develop a space transportation system featuring a vehicle capable of shuttling "repeatedly from Earth to orbit and back." Then, on April 12, 1981, another nine years later, the first space shuttle, Columbia, blasted off, beginning a 30-year run of 135 shuttle missions, which carried more than 350 crew members into outer space, traveling more than 804 million kilometers (500 million miles) during that period. "Following Apollo, NASA dedicated its human spaceflight efforts to the space shuttle," said Odom, praising its ability to “allow us to learn valuable lessons in low-Earth orbit and to live and work in space." Exploring the vast unknowns of space did not end there. From the space shuttle program to the Hubble Space Telescope to the Mars Rover, the first moon landing has been an important catalyst in America's commitment to space exploration more than a half-century later. Webb Telescope, return to the Moon, and manned Mars mission "The moon landing continues to inspire NASA and its workforce, commercial and international partners to dream big," emphasized Odom. "One important example is the recent success of the James Webb Space Telescope. This telescope is the largest and most complex space science observatory ever built to transform our view of the universe and deliver world-class science." "Like Apollo before it, Webb is one of the great engineering feats of humanity," Odom stressed. "The recently revealed first images brought us together to wonder at our shared cosmic origins." Over the decades since the first moon landing, many space enthusiasts have wondered when the US will send another crew of astronauts to the moon. Wonder no more. "NASA is going back to the Moon and beyond with the Artemis Program," said Odom. "With Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before for the benefit of all." NASA continues to test the Artemis human landing system and its next-generation spacesuits, with a target date for that first mission sometime in 2026. "We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon," explained Odom. "Then, we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars." As is evidenced by the amount of space travel and technological breakthroughs over the past 53 years, landing the first human on the moon will continue to motivate space exploration and allow scientists to believe dreams can come true. "I think it really means there is nothing humanity can’t accomplish if we work together across both human space exploration and scientific discovery," said Odom. "People will never look at the sky the same way again."
The first crewed lunar landing in 1969 was a historic triumph for the USA and humankind. Including the Apollo 11 mission, 12 men have walked on the Moon. But who were they? Who was the first person on the Moon?At 02:56 GMT on 21 July 1969, American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon. He stepped out of the Apollo 11 lunar module and onto the Moon's surface, in an area called the 'Sea of Tranquility.' Armstrong reported the lunar module's safe landing at 20:17 GMT with the words: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." As he put his left foot onto the Moon, Armstrong declared: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." At 03:15 GMT, Armstrong was joined by the lunar module pilot, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin. The two colleagues collected data and soil samples before planting the US flag at 03:41 GMT. They also unveiled a plaque bearing President Nixon's signature and an inscription reading:
As Aldrin and Armstrong collected samples, Michael Collins told Mission Control that he had successfully orbited the Moon in the mothership Columbia, and take-off was scheduled for 17:50 GMT. Find out more about the Apollo 11 crew
 Neil Armstrong FactsEarly lifeNeil Armstrong was born on 5 August 1930 in Ohio, United States. He began flying at a young age after being fascinated by planes in an air show. On his 16th birthday, he received his pilot's licence and later studied aerospace engineering at Purdue University. Neil Armstrong's EducationDuring college, Armstrong joined the Navy and became a fighter pilot and fought in the Korean War, flying fighter jets from aircraft carriers. After graduating, he became a test pilot. Armstrong learnt to fly over 200 different types of aircraft, including the X15 rocket plane which could reach top speeds of over 4,000 miles per hour. Neil Armstrong joins NASAArmstrong became a member of NASA when it was established on 1 October 1958. He was selected for Project Gemini, NASA's second human spaceflight programme on 17 September 1962. It paved the way for the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon. Neil Armstrong on the MoonAt 02:56 GMT on 21 July 1969, Armstrong became the first person to step onto the Moon. He was joined by Aldrin 19 minutes later. The two spent about two hours together outside the lunar module, taking photographs and collecting 21.5 kg of lunar material to be tested back on Earth. The video recording of his moonwalk was transmitted to Mission Control in Houston and watched by 530 million people on television across the world. Armstrong's career after the Moon landingNeil Armstrong had a varied career following his trip to the Moon. He retired from NASA in 1971, announcing he would not fly in space again. He then became the Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati in the US. He also acted as a spokesman for several businesses, only accepting roles within American companies. These companies include car manufacturer, Chrysler and General Time Corporation. Armstrong's deathNeil Armstrong died of heart complications on 25 August 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio. NASA administrator and former astronaut, Charles Bolden said of Armstrong,
Neil Armstrong's legacyFollowing his death, NASA named a lunar crater and an asteroid after Armstrong. As well as many schools and streets across America, The Armstrong Air and Space Museum in his hometown of Wapakoneta and the airport in New Knoxville, Ohio (where he took his first flying lessons) are also both named in his honour. How many people have been on the Moon?A total of 12 male astronauts have landed on the Moon, all of whom were part of the US Apollo mission programme. These six crewed lunar landings occurred between July 1969 and December 1972. The following astronauts have been to the Moon (in order of setting foot on the lunar surface): Apollo 11Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin Apollo 12Apollo 14Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell Apollo 15Apollo 16Apollo 17Gene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt This number of men who have been on the Moon was almost 14. As part of the Apollo 13 mission, Jim Lovell and Fred Haise were scheduled to walk on the Moon, but the lunar landing had to be aborted after an oxygen tank exploded two days later. The Apollo 13 mission did set a record as the farthest humans have ever travelled from Earth. Haise was meant to again walk on the Moon as part of the Apollo 19 mission. However, the programme was cancelled due to budgetary cuts and the US focus on renovating the Skylab space station.
How long does it take to get to the Moon?A range of factors determine how long it takes to reach the Moon, such as the type of rocket, the distance between the Earth and Moon, and the flight path the spacecraft takes. Earth's distance from the MoonAs the Moon's journey around the Earth is elliptical, the distance changes within its 27 days orbit. At its closest approach, the Moon reaches 225,623 miles and at its furthest, it is 252,088 miles away from the Earth. Find out more about how far away the Moon is Crewed missionsCrewed missions tend to take longer than passenger-free spacecraft due to the additional size and weight needed to support human life. Whether the object orbits or lands on the Moon will also determine the speed. The first human-made object to reach the MoonLaunched on 2 January 1959, the Soviet Union probe Luna 1 travelled to within almost 4000 miles of the Moon's surface in 34 hours. The mission's original objective was to land on the Moon, but the probe went too fast. It ended up in orbit around the Sun somewhere between Earth and Mars, where it remains today. The first crewed mission to reach the MoonThe Apollo 11 mission in 1969, crewed by three astronauts took four days, six hours and 45 minutes. Apollo 10 holds the record for the highest velocity reached by a crewed spacecraft at 24,791 miles per hour. The fastest object to pass the MoonThe quickest flight to the Moon without stopping was the New Horizons probe launched by NASA on 19 January 2006. This passed the Moon in 8 hours and 35 minutes on its way to Pluto. However, the spacecraft didn't even slow down or approach lunar orbit.
Discover great photos of the MoonVisit the Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition Who was the last person to walk on the Moon?The last two people to land on the Moon were Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt, both astronauts part of NASA's Apollo 17 mission. They landed in the Taurus-Littrow valley on 11 December 1972 and departed on 14 December. During this time, they explored the lunar surface for around seven hours each day, collecting samples and driving in a lunar rover vehicle. They spent 22 hours on the Moon in total. Cernan's final words before lifting off were
Moon landing facts
How many flags are on the Moon?A total of six flags have been planted on the Moon – one for each US Apollo landing. Unfortunately, Apollo 11's flag was too close to the landing module and was knocked over by the exhaust when the module launched again. More recently, higher resolution images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter show that the other five remain standing. The flags were made of ordinary nylon, so they have all long since been bleached white by the Sun's UV radiation. |
Who was the first man to step on the moon
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