🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 62 (from laksa031)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa062.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11","crawl_time":1775311381,"first_indexed_time":1472157931,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,britannica!www,\/topic\/Apollo-11 s443","src_root_hash":"5455945239613777662","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Apollo 11 | History, Mission, Landing, Astronauts, Pictures, Spacecraft, & Facts | Britannica","meta_descriptions":["Apollo 11, U.S. spaceflight in which astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to walk on the Moon. Apollo 11 was the culmination of the Apollo program and a massive national commitment by the United States to beat the Soviet Union in putting people on the Moon."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Top Questions\nWhen was Apollo 11 launched?\nWhat was the mission objective of Apollo 11?\nWho were the crew members of Apollo 11?\nWhen did Apollo 11 land on the Moon?\nHow fast did Apollo 11 travel?\nNews\n•\nApollo 11\n,  U.S.\nspaceflight\nduring which commander\nNeil Armstrong\nand lunar module pilot\nEdwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin, Jr.\n, on July 20, 1969, became the first people to land on the\nMoon\nand walk the lunar surface. Apollo 11 was the\nculmination\nof the\nApollo program\nand a massive national commitment by the\nUnited States\nto beat the\nSoviet Union\nin putting people on the Moon. All told, 24 Apollo astronauts visited the Moon and 12 of them\nwalked on its surface\n. Additional\nNASA\nastronauts are scheduled to return to the Moon by 2025 as part of the\nArtemis\nspace program.\nFrom the time of its launch on July 16, 1969, until the return splashdown on July 24, almost every major aspect of the flight of Apollo 11 was witnessed via\ntelevision\nby hundreds of millions of people in nearly every part of the globe. The pulse of humanity rose with the giant, 111-metre- (363-foot-) high, 3,038,500-kg (6,698,700-pound)\nSaturn\nV\nlaunch vehicle\nas it made its flawless flight from Pad 39A at Cape Kennedy (now\nCape Canaveral\n),\nFlorida\n, before hundreds of thousands of spectators. So accurate was the translunar insertion that three of the en route\ntrajectory\ncorrections planned were not necessary. Aboard Apollo 11 were Armstrong, Aldrin, and command module pilot\nMichael Collins\n. Their enthusiasm was evident from the beginning, as Armstrong exclaimed, “This Saturn gave us a magnificent ride.…It was beautiful!”\nThe third stage of the Saturn then fired to start the crew on their 376,400-km (234,000-mile) journey to the Moon. The three\nastronauts\nconducted their transposition and docking maneuvers, first turning the command module,\nColumbia\n, and its attached service module around and then extracting the lunar module from its resting place above the Saturn’s third stage. On their arrival the astronauts slowed the\nspacecraft\nso that it would go into lunar\norbit\n. Apollo 11 entered first an\nelliptical\norbit 114 by 313 km (71 by 194 miles) and then a nearly circular orbit between 100 and 122 km (62 and 76 miles) above the surface of the Moon.\nBritannica Quiz\nWhat Very Big Thing Happened on This Day?\nApollo 11 lunar module,\nEagle\nGrumman-built Apollo 11 lunar module,\nEagle\n, with its four footpads deployed for touchdown. This photograph was taken from the Apollo 11 command module as the two spacecraft moved apart above the Moon on July 20, 1969.\nOn the morning of July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin crawled from the command module through an interconnecting tunnel into the lunar module,\nEagle\n. Toward the end of the 12th lunar orbit, the Apollo 11 spacecraft became two separate spacecraft:\nColumbia\n, piloted by Collins, and\nEagle\n, occupied by Armstrong and Aldrin.\nBy firing\nEagle\n’s propulsion system, the two astronauts changed from their nearly circular orbit to an elliptical course whose closest approach to the Moon was only 15,000 metres (50,000 feet). At this low point they again fired their engine, this time to undergo the powered descent initiation maneuver. Five times during the descent, the guidance computer triggered an alarm (called “1202” or “1201”) that its memory was full, but NASA\nsimulations\nbefore the mission showed that a landing could still happen despite the alarm, and thus Mission Control told the astronauts to continue the descent. At about 150 metres (500 feet) above the surface, Armstrong began maneuvering the craft manually (although the main engine continued under automatic control) to avoid landing in a rock-strewn crater.\nFor about a minute and a half, Armstrong hovered\nEagle\n, moving it laterally with the reaction control system until he found a clear area on which to descend. Then the contact light went on inside the cockpit, as the 172-cm (68-inch) probes dangling below\nEagle\n’s footpads signaled contact with the ground. One second later the\ndescent\nrocket engine was cut off, as the astronauts gazed down onto a sheet of lunar soil blown radially in all directions. Armstrong then radioed at 4:17\npm\nU.S. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The\nEagle\nhas landed.”\nEagle\nhad touched down in the\nSea of Tranquility\n, an area selected for its level and smooth terrain.\nAt 10:56\npm\nEDT on July 20, Armstrong stepped out onto the lunar soil with the words, “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” (In the excitement of the moment, Armstrong skipped the “a” in the statement that he had prepared.) He immediately described the surface as “fine and powdery” and said that there was no difficulty moving about. Aldrin joined his companion about 20 minutes later.\nGo beyond the basics with trusted, in-depth knowledge for professionals, students, and lifelong learners.\nSUBSCRIBE\nBuzz Aldrin on the Moon\nEdwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin, Jr., deploying the Passive Seismic Experiments Package (PSEP) on the Moon's surface. The lunar module\nEagle\nfrom Apollo 11 is in the background.\nDuring their\nmoon\nwalk of more than two hours, Armstrong and Aldrin set up a device to measure the\ncomposition\nof the\nsolar wind\nreaching the Moon, a device to receive\nlaser\nbeams from\nastronomical observatories\non\nEarth\nto determine the exact distance of the two bodies from one another, and a passive\nseismometer\nto measure moonquakes and\nmeteor\nimpacts long after the astronauts had returned home. They also took about 23 kg (50 pounds) of\nrock\nand soil samples, took many photographs, and maintained constant communication with mission control in\nHouston\n,\nTexas\n. After 21 hours 38 minutes on the Moon’s surface, the astronauts used\nEagle\n’s ascent stage to launch it back into lunar orbit. After various maneuvers,\nEagle\nonce again docked with Collins in\nColumbia\n, and the trip back to Earth began soon afterward.\nSplashdown of Apollo 11 occurred in the\nPacific Ocean\nabout 1,400 km (900 miles) west of\nHawaii\non July 24. The astronauts were immediately placed in\nquarantine\nin a van on the recovery ship. From there they were flown to the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, where they were transferred into the large, 58-room Lunar Receiving Laboratory. The quarantine lasted 21 days from the time\nEagle\ntook off from the Moon; during that period the astronauts were checked for any\ndiseases\nthey might have picked up on the Moon, and the lunar samples were subjected to preliminary analysis.\nQuick Facts\nDate:\nJuly 16, 1969 - July 24, 1969\nColumbia\nis part of the collections of the\nNational Air and Space Museum\nin\nWashington, D.C.","attrs_markdown":"[![Encyclopedia Britannica](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel\/eb-logo\/MendelNewThistleLogo.png)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/)\n\n[![Encyclopedia Britannica](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel\/eb-logo\/MendelNewThistleLogo.png)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/)\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen)\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav-mobile&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen)\n\nLogin\n\nhttps:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm\\_source=premium\\&utm\\_medium=nav-login-box\\&utm\\_campaign=evergreen\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=hamburger-menu&utm_campaign=blue)\n\n[Ask the Chatbot](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/chatbot)\n\n[Games & Quizzes](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/browse) [History & Society](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/History-Society) [Science & Tech](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Science-Tech) [Biographies](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Biographies) [Animals & Nature](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Animals-Nature) [Geography & Travel](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Geography-Travel) [Arts & Culture](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Arts-Culture) [ProCon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/procon) [Money](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/money) [Videos](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/videos)\n\n[Apollo 11](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11)\n\n[Introduction & Top Questions](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11)   [References & Edit History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11\/additional-info)  [Quick Facts & Related Topics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/facts\/Apollo-11)\n\n[Images, Videos & Interactives](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11\/images-videos)\n\n[![Buzz Aldrin on the Moon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/24\/71324-120-CA22C4BA\/Edwin-Aldrin-Moon-July-20-1969.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/24\/71324-050-894661C8\/Edwin-Aldrin-Moon-July-20-1969.jpg)  [![Apollo 11 crew](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/92\/118692-004-09AA5B8E\/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/92\/118692-050-194A0468\/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg)\n\n[![Apollo 11's incredible journey to the Moon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/01\/216701-138-14E04184\/Just-the-facts-Apollo-11-moon-landing.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/Just-the-facts-Apollo-11-moon-landing\/-246490)\n\n[![Apollo 11](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/80\/144580-004-503E6074\/Launch-Apollo-11-July-16-1969.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/80\/144580-050-2840ED84\/Launch-Apollo-11-July-16-1969.jpg)  [![Apollo program infographic.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/78\/206878-004-68B00D19\/Apollo-program-space-command-service-lunar-module.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/78\/206878-050-68B00D19\/Apollo-program-space-command-service-lunar-module.jpg)  [![Explore the timeline of the Apollo missions that led the United States to land the first humans on the Moon.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/57\/206457-004-8641EF6E\/Apollo-space-program-United-States-NASA-moon-landing.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/57\/206457-050-8641EF6E\/Apollo-space-program-United-States-NASA-moon-landing.jpg)  [![Apollo 11 lunar module, Eagle](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/18\/418-004-18BC0DEE\/Eagle-Grumman-lunar-module-Apollo-11-footpads-July-20-1969.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/18\/418-050-613974C9\/Eagle-Grumman-lunar-module-Apollo-11-footpads-July-20-1969.jpg)  [![Interactive: A Tour of the Moon's Landmarks.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/24\/255324-049-6389DC7C\/3d-tour-earth-moon.jpg)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11)\n\n[![Neil Armstrong takes humankind's first steps on the lunar surface during NASA's Apollo 11 mission](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/83\/23183-138-3E257FAE\/famous-Neil-Armstrong-space-films-clips-arrival-July-20-1969.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/famous-Neil-Armstrong-space-films-clips-arrival-July-20-1969\/-8519)\n\n[![footprint on the Moon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/29\/76829-120-9658164B\/lunar-soil-Cohesiveness-Edwin-Aldrin-boot-print-July-1969.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/29\/76829-050-CD9C4B43\/lunar-soil-Cohesiveness-Edwin-Aldrin-boot-print-July-1969.jpg)\n\nQuizzes\n\n[![Quiz thumbnail, \"What Happened on this Very Important Date\" quiz. A push pin on a calendar](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/88\/259288-131-D51AA72F\/quiz-thumbnail-what-happened-on-this-very-important-date.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/what-very-big-thing-happened-on-this-day)\n\n[What Very Big Thing Happened on This Day?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/what-very-big-thing-happened-on-this-day)\n\n[![Soil cohesiveness demonstrated in bootprint of Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11. footprint; foot print; moon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/29\/76829-131-9658164B\/lunar-soil-Cohesiveness-Edwin-Aldrin-boot-print-July-1969.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/space-exploration)\n\n[Space Exploration](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/space-exploration)\n\n[![Buzz Aldrin. Apollo 11. Apollo 11 astronaut Edwin Aldrin, photographed July 20, 1969, during the first manned mission to the Moon's surface. Reflected in Aldrin's faceplate is the Lunar Module and astronaut Neil Armstrong, who took the picture.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/24\/71324-131-CA22C4BA\/Edwin-Aldrin-Moon-July-20-1969.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/exploration-and-discovery)\n\n[Exploration and Discovery](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/exploration-and-discovery)\n\n[![Edwin E. Aldrin (Buzz Aldrin) stands on the moon, Apollo 11](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/14\/188714-131-87D4E380\/moon-Edwin-E-Aldrin-Apollo-11.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/famous-astronauts-and-cosmonauts)\n\n[Famous Astronauts and Cosmonauts](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/famous-astronauts-and-cosmonauts)\n\nRelated Questions\n\n- [When was Apollo 11 launched?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/When-was-Apollo-11-launched)\n- [What does the pink moon mean?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/What-does-the-pink-moon-mean)\n- [When is the pink moon?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/When-is-the-pink-moon)\n- [How many Apollo missions failed?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/How-many-Apollo-missions-failed)\n- [How many Apollo astronauts are still alive?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/How-many-Apollo-astronauts-are-still-alive)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-178\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5)\n\nAsk Anything\n\nQuick Summary\n\n[Science](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Science)    [Astronomy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Astronomy)\n\nCITE\n\nShare\n\nFeedback\n\nExternal Websites\n\n[![Buzz Aldrin on the Moon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/24\/71324-050-894661C8\/Edwin-Aldrin-Moon-July-20-1969.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/24\/71324-050-894661C8\/Edwin-Aldrin-Moon-July-20-1969.jpg)\n\n[Buzz Aldrin on the Moon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/24\/71324-050-894661C8\/Edwin-Aldrin-Moon-July-20-1969.jpg) U.S. astronaut Buzz Aldrin walking on the Moon, July 20, 1969.\n\n(more)\n\n# Apollo 11\nUnited States spaceflight\n\nHomework Help\n\nWritten and fact-checked by\n\n[Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica\/4419)\n\nBritannica Editors\n\nLast updated\n\nApr. 4, 2026\n\n•[History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11\/additional-info#history)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-178\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5) Britannica AI\n\nAsk Anything\n\nQuick Summary\n\nTable of Contents\n\nTable of Contents\n\nQuick Summary\n\nAsk Anything\n\nTop Questions\n\n### When was Apollo 11 launched?\nApollo 11, the first space mission to put people on the Moon, was launched on July 16, 1969. Almost every major aspect of the flight of Apollo 11 was witnessed via television by hundreds of millions of people in nearly every part of the globe, until splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on July 24.\n\n### What was the mission objective of Apollo 11?\nApollo 11’s mission objective was to land [astronauts](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/astronaut) on the [Moon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Moon) and return them safely back to [Earth](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Earth). It succeeded in its objective by landing [Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong) and [Buzz Aldrin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Buzz-Aldrin) on the Moon on July 20, 1969.\n\n### Who were the crew members of Apollo 11?\nApollo 11’s crew members were commander [Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong), lunar module pilot [Buzz Aldrin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Buzz-Aldrin), and command module pilot [Michael Collins](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Michael-Collins-American-astronaut).\n\n### When did Apollo 11 land on the Moon?\nThe lunar module *Eagle* of the Apollo 11 mission landed on the Moon on July 20, 1969. [Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong) and [Buzz Aldrin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Buzz-Aldrin) became the first people to land on the Moon and walk on the lunar surface.\n\n### How fast did Apollo 11 travel?\nThe fastest speed Apollo 11 achieved was 39,715 kilometers (24,678 miles) per hour when the command module reentered Earth’s atmosphere on July 24, 1969.\n\n## News •\n[Dorset's former Nasa engineer says Moon is 'stepping stone' to Mars](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cdxkv454n7zo)  • Apr. 1, 2026, 9:00 AM ET (BBC)\n\nShow less\n\n[![Apollo 11 crew](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/92\/118692-050-194A0468\/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg?w=300)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/92\/118692-050-194A0468\/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg)\n\n[Apollo 11 crew](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/92\/118692-050-194A0468\/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg)The crew of Apollo 11 (from left): Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin.\n\n(more)\n\n**Apollo 11**, U.S. [spaceflight](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/spaceflight) during which commander [Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong) and lunar module pilot [Edwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin, Jr.](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Buzz-Aldrin), on July 20, 1969, became the first people to land on the [Moon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Moon) and walk the lunar surface. Apollo 11 was the [culmination](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/culmination) of the [Apollo program](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/Apollo-space-program) and a massive national commitment by the [United States](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/United-States) to beat the [Soviet Union](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Soviet-Union) in putting people on the Moon. All told, 24 Apollo astronauts visited the Moon and 12 of them [walked on its surface](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/how-many-people-have-been-to-the-moon). Additional [NASA](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/NASA) astronauts are scheduled to return to the Moon by 2025 as part of the [Artemis](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Artemis-program) space program.\n\n[![Apollo 11's incredible journey to the Moon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/01\/216701-138-14E04184\/Just-the-facts-Apollo-11-moon-landing.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)1 of 4](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/Just-the-facts-Apollo-11-moon-landing\/-246490)\n\nApollo 11's incredible journey to the MoonOverview of the Apollo 11 spaceflight in which U.S. astronauts became the first people to walk on the Moon.\n\n(more)\n\n[See all videos for this article](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11\/images-videos)\n\n[![Apollo 11](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/80\/144580-050-2840ED84\/Launch-Apollo-11-July-16-1969.jpg?w=300)2 of 4](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/80\/144580-050-2840ED84\/Launch-Apollo-11-July-16-1969.jpg)\n\n[Apollo 11](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/80\/144580-050-2840ED84\/Launch-Apollo-11-July-16-1969.jpg)Launch of Apollo 11, July 16, 1969.\n\n(more)\n\n[![Apollo program infographic.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/78\/206878-050-68B00D19\/Apollo-program-space-command-service-lunar-module.jpg)3 of 4](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/78\/206878-050-68B00D19\/Apollo-program-space-command-service-lunar-module.jpg)\n\n[Apollo program infographic.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/78\/206878-050-68B00D19\/Apollo-program-space-command-service-lunar-module.jpg)The Apollo program: Major elements of the U.S. Apollo program, showing the Saturn V launch vehicle and configurations of the Apollo spacecraft modules at launch and during their journey to the Moon in an infographic.\n\n(more)\n\n[![Explore the timeline of the Apollo missions that led the United States to land the first humans on the Moon.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/57\/206457-050-8641EF6E\/Apollo-space-program-United-States-NASA-moon-landing.jpg)4 of 4](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/57\/206457-050-8641EF6E\/Apollo-space-program-United-States-NASA-moon-landing.jpg)\n\n[Explore the timeline of the Apollo missions that led the United States to land the first humans on the Moon.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/57\/206457-050-8641EF6E\/Apollo-space-program-United-States-NASA-moon-landing.jpg) Timeline and infographic of the Apollo space missions.\n\n(more)\n\nFrom the time of its launch on July 16, 1969, until the return splashdown on July 24, almost every major aspect of the flight of Apollo 11 was witnessed via [television](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/television-technology) by hundreds of millions of people in nearly every part of the globe. The pulse of humanity rose with the giant, 111-metre- (363-foot-) high, 3,038,500-kg (6,698,700-pound) [Saturn](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/Saturn-launch-vehicle) V [launch vehicle](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/launch-vehicle) as it made its flawless flight from Pad 39A at Cape Kennedy (now [Cape Canaveral](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Cape-Canaveral)), [Florida](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Florida), before hundreds of thousands of spectators. So accurate was the translunar insertion that three of the en route [trajectory](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/trajectory) corrections planned were not necessary. Aboard Apollo 11 were Armstrong, Aldrin, and command module pilot [Michael Collins](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Michael-Collins-American-astronaut). Their enthusiasm was evident from the beginning, as Armstrong exclaimed, “This Saturn gave us a magnificent ride.…It was beautiful!”\n\nThe third stage of the Saturn then fired to start the crew on their 376,400-km (234,000-mile) journey to the Moon. The three [astronauts](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/astronaut) conducted their transposition and docking maneuvers, first turning the command module, *Columbia*, and its attached service module around and then extracting the lunar module from its resting place above the Saturn’s third stage. On their arrival the astronauts slowed the [spacecraft](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/spacecraft) so that it would go into lunar [orbit](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/orbit-astronomy). Apollo 11 entered first an [elliptical](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/elliptical) orbit 114 by 313 km (71 by 194 miles) and then a nearly circular orbit between 100 and 122 km (62 and 76 miles) above the surface of the Moon.\n\n[![Quiz thumbnail, \"What Happened on this Very Important Date\" quiz. A push pin on a calendar](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/88\/259288-131-D51AA72F\/quiz-thumbnail-what-happened-on-this-very-important-date.jpg) Britannica Quiz What Very Big Thing Happened on This Day?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/what-very-big-thing-happened-on-this-day)\n\n[![Apollo 11 lunar module, Eagle](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/18\/418-050-613974C9\/Eagle-Grumman-lunar-module-Apollo-11-footpads-July-20-1969.jpg?w=300)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/18\/418-050-613974C9\/Eagle-Grumman-lunar-module-Apollo-11-footpads-July-20-1969.jpg)\n\n[Apollo 11 lunar module, *Eagle*](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/18\/418-050-613974C9\/Eagle-Grumman-lunar-module-Apollo-11-footpads-July-20-1969.jpg)Grumman-built Apollo 11 lunar module, *Eagle*, with its four footpads deployed for touchdown. This photograph was taken from the Apollo 11 command module as the two spacecraft moved apart above the Moon on July 20, 1969.\n\n(more)\n\nOn the morning of July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin crawled from the command module through an interconnecting tunnel into the lunar module, *[Eagle](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Eagle-United-States-lunar-module)*. Toward the end of the 12th lunar orbit, the Apollo 11 spacecraft became two separate spacecraft: *Columbia*, piloted by Collins, and *Eagle*, occupied by Armstrong and Aldrin.\n\nBy firing *Eagle*’s propulsion system, the two astronauts changed from their nearly circular orbit to an elliptical course whose closest approach to the Moon was only 15,000 metres (50,000 feet). At this low point they again fired their engine, this time to undergo the powered descent initiation maneuver. Five times during the descent, the guidance computer triggered an alarm (called “1202” or “1201”) that its memory was full, but NASA [simulations](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/simulations) before the mission showed that a landing could still happen despite the alarm, and thus Mission Control told the astronauts to continue the descent. At about 150 metres (500 feet) above the surface, Armstrong began maneuvering the craft manually (although the main engine continued under automatic control) to avoid landing in a rock-strewn crater.\n\nFor about a minute and a half, Armstrong hovered *Eagle*, moving it laterally with the reaction control system until he found a clear area on which to descend. Then the contact light went on inside the cockpit, as the 172-cm (68-inch) probes dangling below *Eagle*’s footpads signaled contact with the ground. One second later the [descent](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/descent) rocket engine was cut off, as the astronauts gazed down onto a sheet of lunar soil blown radially in all directions. Armstrong then radioed at 4:17 pm U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The *Eagle* has landed.” *Eagle* had touched down in the [Sea of Tranquility](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/Mare-Tranquillitatis), an area selected for its level and smooth terrain.\n\n[![Neil Armstrong takes humankind's first steps on the lunar surface during NASA's Apollo 11 mission](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/83\/23183-138-3E257FAE\/famous-Neil-Armstrong-space-films-clips-arrival-July-20-1969.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)1 of 2](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/famous-Neil-Armstrong-space-films-clips-arrival-July-20-1969\/-8519)\n\nNeil Armstrong takes humankind's first steps on the lunar surface during NASA's Apollo 11 missionPerhaps the most famous of all space films, these clips document the arrival of the first human beings on the Moon on July 20, 1969.\n\n(more)\n\n[See all videos for this article](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11\/images-videos)\n\n[![footprint on the Moon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/29\/76829-050-CD9C4B43\/lunar-soil-Cohesiveness-Edwin-Aldrin-boot-print-July-1969.jpg?w=300)2 of 2](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/29\/76829-050-CD9C4B43\/lunar-soil-Cohesiveness-Edwin-Aldrin-boot-print-July-1969.jpg)\n\n[footprint on the Moon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/29\/76829-050-CD9C4B43\/lunar-soil-Cohesiveness-Edwin-Aldrin-boot-print-July-1969.jpg)Cohesiveness of lunar soil, demonstrated qualitatively in a crisply defined boot print left on the Moon by U.S. astronaut Edwin Aldrin during the Apollo 11 mission, July 1969. Aldrin photographed the print as part of a study of the nature of the soil and its compaction behavior. This image has also become an icon of the first visit by humans to another world.\n\n(more)\n\nAt 10:56 pm EDT on July 20, Armstrong stepped out onto the lunar soil with the words, “That’s one small step for \\[a\\] man, one giant leap for mankind.” (In the excitement of the moment, Armstrong skipped the “a” in the statement that he had prepared.) He immediately described the surface as “fine and powdery” and said that there was no difficulty moving about. Aldrin joined his companion about 20 minutes later.\n\nExplore Britannica Premium\\!\n\nGo beyond the basics with trusted, in-depth knowledge for professionals, students, and lifelong learners.\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=basics-2026)\n\n![Penguin, ship, mountain, atlas](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-left.webp)\n\n![shohei ohtani, plants, andy wharhol art](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-right.webp)\n\n![Mobile](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-mobile.webp?w=400)\n\n[![Buzz Aldrin on the Moon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/65022-004-1A7CC8C4\/Edwin-Aldrin-Jr-surface-Moon-Passive-Seismic.jpg?w=300)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/65022-004-1A7CC8C4\/Edwin-Aldrin-Jr-surface-Moon-Passive-Seismic.jpg)\n\n[Buzz Aldrin on the Moon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/65022-004-1A7CC8C4\/Edwin-Aldrin-Jr-surface-Moon-Passive-Seismic.jpg)Edwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin, Jr., deploying the Passive Seismic Experiments Package (PSEP) on the Moon's surface. The lunar module *Eagle* from Apollo 11 is in the background.\n\n(more)\n\nDuring their [moon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/moon-natural-satellite) walk of more than two hours, Armstrong and Aldrin set up a device to measure the [composition](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/composition) of the [solar wind](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/solar-wind) reaching the Moon, a device to receive [laser](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/laser) beams from [astronomical observatories](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/astronomical-observatory) on [Earth](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Earth) to determine the exact distance of the two bodies from one another, and a passive [seismometer](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/seismograph) to measure moonquakes and [meteor](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/meteor) impacts long after the astronauts had returned home. They also took about 23 kg (50 pounds) of [rock](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/rock-geology) and soil samples, took many photographs, and maintained constant communication with mission control in [Houston](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Houston), [Texas](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Texas-state). After 21 hours 38 minutes on the Moon’s surface, the astronauts used *Eagle*’s ascent stage to launch it back into lunar orbit. After various maneuvers, *Eagle* once again docked with Collins in *Columbia*, and the trip back to Earth began soon afterward.\n\n[![Moon: seen from Apollo 11](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/89\/145489-050-4E9609BA\/moon-return-journey-Apollo-11-July-21-1969.jpg?w=300)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/89\/145489-050-4E9609BA\/moon-return-journey-Apollo-11-July-21-1969.jpg)\n\n[Moon: seen from Apollo 11](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/89\/145489-050-4E9609BA\/moon-return-journey-Apollo-11-July-21-1969.jpg)Full moon seen from Apollo 11 on its return journey, July 21, 1969.\n\n(more)\n\nSplashdown of Apollo 11 occurred in the [Pacific Ocean](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Pacific-Ocean) about 1,400 km (900 miles) west of [Hawaii](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Hawaii-state) on July 24. The astronauts were immediately placed in [quarantine](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/quarantine-preventive-medicine) in a van on the recovery ship. From there they were flown to the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, where they were transferred into the large, 58-room Lunar Receiving Laboratory. The quarantine lasted 21 days from the time *Eagle* took off from the Moon; during that period the astronauts were checked for any [diseases](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/disease) they might have picked up on the Moon, and the lunar samples were subjected to preliminary analysis.\n\nQuick Facts\n\nDate:\n\nJuly 16, 1969 - July 24, 1969\n\n*(Show more)*\n\nContext:\n\n[Apollo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/Apollo-space-program)\n\n[space exploration](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/space-exploration)\n\n*(Show more)*\n\nKey People:\n\n[Buzz Aldrin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Buzz-Aldrin)\n\n[Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong)\n\n[Michael Collins](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Michael-Collins-American-astronaut)\n\n[Katherine Johnson](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Katherine-Johnson)\n\n*(Show more)*\n\n[See all related content](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/facts\/Apollo-11)\n\n*Columbia* is part of the collections of the [National Air and Space Museum](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/National-Air-and-Space-Museum) in [Washington, D.C.](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Washington-DC)\n\n[The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica\/4419)This article was most recently revised and updated by [Erik Gregersen](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/Erik-Gregersen\/6723).\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-178\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5)Britannica AI\n\n*chevron\\_right*\n\nApollo 11\n\n*close*\n\n[AI-generated answers](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.\n\n[Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong)\n\n- [Introduction & Top Questions](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong)\n- [Early life and career](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong#ref336457)\n- [Moon landing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong#ref336458)\n- [Timeline of the Apollo program](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong#ref380447)\n- [Later career](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong#ref336459)\n\n[Quotes](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quotes\/Neil-Armstrong)  [References & Edit History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong\/additional-info)  [Quick Facts & Related Topics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/facts\/Neil-Armstrong)\n\n[Images, Videos & Interactives](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong\/images-videos)\n\n[![Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/72\/163272-004-9BE1CA0A\/Neil-Armstrong-American.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/72\/163272-050-1C5BC2B7\/Neil-Armstrong-American.jpg)  [![Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/76\/13376-004-F9229344\/Neil-Armstrong-1969.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/76\/13376-050-533EDBC0\/Neil-Armstrong-1969.jpg)  [![Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/32\/168932-004-05092041\/Neil-Armstrong-American-launch-Gemini-8-Florida-March-1966.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/32\/168932-050-DA330336\/Neil-Armstrong-American-launch-Gemini-8-Florida-March-1966.jpg)\n\n[![Neil Armstrong takes humankind's first steps on the lunar surface during NASA's Apollo 11 mission](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/83\/23183-138-3E257FAE\/famous-Neil-Armstrong-space-films-clips-arrival-July-20-1969.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/famous-Neil-Armstrong-space-films-clips-arrival-July-20-1969\/-8519)\n\n[![Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/68\/73168-004-B8DF47D5\/Neil-Armstrong-simulation-training-Apollo-11-lunar.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/68\/73168-004-B8DF47D5\/Neil-Armstrong-simulation-training-Apollo-11-lunar.jpg)  [![Moon landing](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/99\/157599-004-A154081E\/Neil-Armstrong-Moon-July-1969.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/99\/157599-050-743F6CAC\/Neil-Armstrong-Moon-July-1969.jpg)  [![Apollo 11 crew](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/92\/118692-004-09AA5B8E\/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/92\/118692-050-194A0468\/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg)  [![Timeline of the Apollo space missions](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/19\/258719-049-2F885B9B\/apollo-timeframe-infographic.jpg)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11)  [![Buzz Aldrin on the Moon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/41\/65041-004-C13941A2\/Edwin-Aldrin-Apollo-11-Moon-background-Lunar.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/41\/65041-050-A80E9B6A\/Edwin-Aldrin-Apollo-11-Moon-background-Lunar.jpg)  [![Apollo 11 spacesuit](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/51\/218151-004-BE376EDD\/Neil-Armstrong-spacesuit-Apollo-11-mission-1969-National-Air-and-Space-Museum.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/51\/218151-050-0C61E1EA\/Neil-Armstrong-spacesuit-Apollo-11-mission-1969-National-Air-and-Space-Museum.jpg)\n\nAt a Glance\n\n[![Neil Armstrong, 1969.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/28\/91728-050-C16F54E8\/Neil-Armstrong-1969.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/summary\/Neil-Armstrong)\n\n[Neil Armstrong summary](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/summary\/Neil-Armstrong)\n\nQuizzes\n\n[![View of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31, M31).](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/41\/155241-131-FB2C633F\/View-Andromeda-Galaxy.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/astronomy-and-space-quiz)\n\n[Astronomy and Space Quiz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/astronomy-and-space-quiz)\n\n[![Soil cohesiveness demonstrated in bootprint of Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11. footprint; foot print; moon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/29\/76829-131-9658164B\/lunar-soil-Cohesiveness-Edwin-Aldrin-boot-print-July-1969.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/space-exploration)\n\n[Space Exploration](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/space-exploration)\n\n[![Edwin E. Aldrin (Buzz Aldrin) stands on the moon, Apollo 11](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/14\/188714-131-87D4E380\/moon-Edwin-E-Aldrin-Apollo-11.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/famous-astronauts-and-cosmonauts)\n\n[Famous Astronauts and Cosmonauts](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/famous-astronauts-and-cosmonauts)\n\nRelated Questions\n\n- [Did Neil Armstrong leave something on the Moon?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/Did-Neil-Armstrong-leave-something-on-the-Moon)\n- [What happened on Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 mission?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/What-happened-on-Neil-Armstrongs-Apollo-11-mission)\n- [What did Neil Armstrong do after Apollo 11?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/What-did-Neil-Armstrong-do-after-Apollo-11)\n- [How many Apollo missions failed?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/How-many-Apollo-missions-failed)\n- [How many Apollo astronauts are still alive?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/How-many-Apollo-astronauts-are-still-alive)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-178\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5)\n\nContents\n\nAsk Anything\n\n[Science](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Science)    [Astronomy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Astronomy)\n\nCITE\n\nShare\n\nFeedback\n\nExternal Websites\n\n[![Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/72\/163272-050-1C5BC2B7\/Neil-Armstrong-American.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/72\/163272-050-1C5BC2B7\/Neil-Armstrong-American.jpg)\n\n[Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/72\/163272-050-1C5BC2B7\/Neil-Armstrong-American.jpg) American astronaut Neil Armstrong, 1969.\n\n(more)\n\n# Neil Armstrong\nAmerican astronaut\n\nHomework Help\n\nAlso known as: Neil Alden Armstrong\n\nWritten and fact-checked by\n\n[Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica\/4419)\n\nBritannica Editors\n\nLast updated\n\nFeb. 6, 2026\n\n•[History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong\/additional-info#history)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-178\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5) Britannica AI\n\nAsk Anything\n\nTable of Contents\n\nTable of Contents\n\nAsk Anything\n\nTop Questions\n\n### Why is Neil Armstrong famous?\nNeil Armstrong is famous for being the first person to set foot on the [Moon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Moon). He was a part of the [Apollo 11](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11) spaceflight alongside [Buzz Aldrin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Buzz-Aldrin) and [Michael Collins](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Michael-Collins-American-astronaut). Apollo 11’s success in 1969 opened a new era of [space exploration](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/space-exploration).\n\n### Did Neil Armstrong leave something on the Moon?\nThe astronauts did leave items on the Moon, including a plaque and a flag, but Neil Armstrong himself did not leave any personal items on the Moon. Neil Armstrong leaving a bracelet on the Moon to memorialize his deceased daughter Karen was dramatic license on the part of the filmmakers of *First Man* (2018).\n\n### Are Neil Armstrong’s footprints still visible on the Moon?\nBecause the [Moon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Moon) has no atmosphere or water to wear Neil Armstrong’s footprints away, his footprints are still visible.\n\n### What happened on Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 mission?\nOn July 20, 1969, some 600 million television viewers watched the [Apollo 11](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11) [Moon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Moon) landing. Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar soil and said, “That’s one small step for \\[a\\] man, one giant leap for mankind.” He and crewmate Buzz Aldrin departed after over 21 hours of scientific tests and sample collection on the Moon.\n\n### What did Neil Armstrong do after Apollo 11?\nAfter their successful [Apollo 11](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11) mission in 1969, Neil Armstrong and his crewmates toured over 20 countries to celebrate a new era of [space exploration](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/space-exploration). Armstrong received the [Presidential Medal of Freedom](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Presidential-Medal-of-Freedom) that year. He resigned from [NASA](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/NASA) in 1971 and immersed himself in various academic and professional pursuits for the rest of his life.\n\n## News •\n[Newly discovered photos show astronaut Neil Armstrong after the Gemini 8 emergency](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/news\/35599\/4fb53a2c8b4735c6262313edd7a63348)  • Mar. 21, 2026, 1:00 PM ET (AP)\n\nShow less\n\n**Neil Armstrong** (born August 5, 1930, Wapakoneta, [Ohio](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Ohio-state), U.S.—died August 25, 2012, [Cincinnati](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Cincinnati), Ohio) was a U.S. [astronaut](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/astronaut), and the first person to set foot on the [Moon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Moon).\n\n## Early life and career\nNeil Armstrong was the eldest of three children born to Viola Louise Engel and Stephen Koenig Armstrong, a state auditor. Neil’s passion for aviation and flight was kindled when he took his first airplane ride at age 6. He was active in the [Boy Scouts](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Boy-Scouts) of [America](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/United-States) and earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable. He became a licensed pilot on his 16th birthday and a naval air cadet in 1947. His studies in [aeronautical engineering](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/aerospace-engineering) at [Purdue University](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Purdue-University) in [West Lafayette](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/West-Lafayette), [Indiana](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Indiana-state), were interrupted in 1950 by his service in the [Korean War](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Korean-War), during which he was shot down once and was awarded three Air Medals. He completed his degree in 1955 and immediately became a civilian research pilot for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), later the [National Aeronautics and Space Administration](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/NASA) (NASA). He flew more than 1,100 hours, testing various supersonic fighters as well as the [X-15](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/X-15-aircraft) rocket plane.\n\n[![Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/76\/13376-050-533EDBC0\/Neil-Armstrong-1969.jpg?w=300)1 of 2](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/76\/13376-050-533EDBC0\/Neil-Armstrong-1969.jpg)\n\n[Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/76\/13376-050-533EDBC0\/Neil-Armstrong-1969.jpg)Neil Armstrong, 1969.\n\n(more)\n\n[![Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/32\/168932-050-DA330336\/Neil-Armstrong-American-launch-Gemini-8-Florida-March-1966.jpg?w=300)2 of 2](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/32\/168932-050-DA330336\/Neil-Armstrong-American-launch-Gemini-8-Florida-March-1966.jpg)\n\n[Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/32\/168932-050-DA330336\/Neil-Armstrong-American-launch-Gemini-8-Florida-March-1966.jpg)American astronaut Neil Armstrong suiting up before the launch of Gemini 8 from Cape Kennedy (now Cape Canaveral), Florida, March 1966.\n\n(more)\n\nIn 1962 Armstrong joined the space program with its second group of astronauts. On March 16, 1966, Armstrong, as command pilot of [Gemini 8](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/Gemini-spacecraft-and-space-program), and [David R. Scott](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/David-Scott) [rendezvoused](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/rendezvoused) with an unmanned Agena rocket and completed the first manual space docking maneuver. After the docking, a rocket thruster malfunction sent the [spacecraft](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/spacecraft) into an uncontrolled spin and forced them to separate from the Agena. Armstrong then regained control of the Gemini craft and made an emergency splashdown in the [Pacific Ocean](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Pacific-Ocean).\n\n[![View of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31, M31).](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/41\/155241-131-FB2C633F\/View-Andromeda-Galaxy.jpg) Britannica Quiz Astronomy and Space Quiz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/astronomy-and-space-quiz)\n\n## [Moon landing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11)\n[![Neil Armstrong takes humankind's first steps on the lunar surface during NASA's Apollo 11 mission](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/83\/23183-138-3E257FAE\/famous-Neil-Armstrong-space-films-clips-arrival-July-20-1969.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)1 of 3](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/famous-Neil-Armstrong-space-films-clips-arrival-July-20-1969\/-8519)\n\nNeil Armstrong takes humankind's first steps on the lunar surface during NASA's Apollo 11 missionPerhaps the most famous of all space films, these clips document the arrival of the first human beings on the Moon on July 20, 1969.\n\n(more)\n\n[See all videos for this article](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong\/images-videos)\n\n[![Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/68\/73168-004-B8DF47D5\/Neil-Armstrong-simulation-training-Apollo-11-lunar.jpg?w=300)2 of 3](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/68\/73168-004-B8DF47D5\/Neil-Armstrong-simulation-training-Apollo-11-lunar.jpg)\n\n[Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/68\/73168-004-B8DF47D5\/Neil-Armstrong-simulation-training-Apollo-11-lunar.jpg)U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11 commander, participating in simulation training in preparation for the lunar landing mission.\n\n(more)\n\n[![Moon landing](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/99\/157599-050-743F6CAC\/Neil-Armstrong-Moon-July-1969.jpg?w=300)3 of 3](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/99\/157599-050-743F6CAC\/Neil-Armstrong-Moon-July-1969.jpg)\n\n[Moon landing](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/99\/157599-050-743F6CAC\/Neil-Armstrong-Moon-July-1969.jpg)Neil Armstrong on the Moon, July 1969.\n\n(more)\n\nOn July 16, 1969, Armstrong, along with [Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr.](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Buzz-Aldrin), and [Michael Collins](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Michael-Collins-American-astronaut), blasted off in the [Apollo 11](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11) vehicle toward the [Moon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/Moon-exploration) (*see* [Apollo program](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/Apollo-space-program)). Four days later, at 4:17 pm U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), the *Eagle* lunar landing module, guided manually by Armstrong, touched down on a plain near the southwestern edge of the Sea of Tranquility ([Mare Tranquillitatis](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/Mare-Tranquillitatis)). At 10:56 pm EDT on July 20, 1969, Armstrong stepped from the *Eagle* onto the Moon’s dusty surface with the words, “That’s one small step for \\[a\\] man, one giant leap for mankind.” (In the excitement of the moment, Armstrong skipped the “a” in the statement that he had prepared.) Armstrong and Aldrin left the module for more than two hours and [deployed](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/deployed) scientific instruments, collected surface samples, and took numerous photographs.\n\n[![Apollo 11 crew](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/92\/118692-050-194A0468\/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg?w=300)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/92\/118692-050-194A0468\/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg)\n\n[Apollo 11 crew](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/92\/118692-050-194A0468\/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg)The crew of Apollo 11 (from left): Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin.\n\n(more)\n\nOn July 21, after 21 hours and 36 minutes on the Moon, they lifted off to rendezvous with Collins and begin the voyage back to [Earth](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Earth). After splashdown in the Pacific at 12:51 pm EDT on July 24, the three astronauts spent 18 days in quarantine to guard against possible contamination by lunar microbes. During the days that followed, and during a tour of 21 nations, they were hailed for their part in the opening of a new era in human exploration of the [universe](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/universe).\n\n## Timeline of the Apollo program\nBetween 1968 and 1972, 24 Apollo astronauts visited the Moon, and 12 of them walked on its surface. Scroll through the timeline of the Apollo missions that led the United States to land the first humans on the Moon, and see how Armstrong fits into this storied history.\n\n## Later career\nArmstrong resigned from NASA in 1971. After [Apollo 11](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11) he shied away from being a public figure and [confined](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/confined) himself to academic and professional endeavors. From 1971 to 1979 he was professor of aerospace engineering at the [University of Cincinnati](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/University-of-Cincinnati) (Ohio). After 1979 Armstrong served as chairman or director for a number of companies, among them Computing Technologies for Aviation from 1982 to 1992 and AIL Systems (later EDO Corporation), a maker of electronic equipment for the military, from 1977 until his retirement in 2002. He also served on the National Commission on Space (NCOS), a panel charged with setting goals for the space program, and on the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, the group appointed in 1986 to analyze the safety failures in the [*Challenger* disaster](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Challenger-disaster). He was awarded the [Presidential Medal of Freedom](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Presidential-Medal-of-Freedom) in 1969, the Congressional Space [Medal of Honor](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Medal-of-Honor-United-States-military-decoration) in 1978, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2009.\n\nExplore Britannica Premium\\!\n\nThe trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=redesign-2026)\n\n![Penguin, ship, mountain, atlas](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-left.webp)\n\n![shohei ohtani, plants, andy wharhol art](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-right.webp)\n\n![Mobile](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-mobile.webp?w=400)\n\n[The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica\/4419)This article was most recently revised and updated by [Erik Gregersen](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/Erik-Gregersen\/6723).\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-178\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5)Britannica AI\n\n*chevron\\_right*\n\nNeil Armstrong\n\n*close*\n\n[AI-generated answers](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.\n\nLoad Next Page\n\nFeedback\n\nThank you for your feedback\n\nOur editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.\n\n*verified*Cite\n\nWhile every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.\n\nSelect Citation Style\n\nBritannica Editors. \"Apollo 11\". *Encyclopedia Britannica*, 4 Apr. 2026, https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11. Accessed 4 April 2026.\n\nCopy Citation\n\nShare\n\nShare to social media\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BRITANNICA\/) [X](https:\/\/x.com\/britannica)\n\nURL\n\n<https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Apollo-11>\n\nExternal Websites\n\n- [Space.com - Apollo 11: First Men on the Moon](https:\/\/www.space.com\/16758-apollo-11-first-moon-landing.html)\n- [BBC Newsround - Apollo 11 Moon landing: Everything you need to know](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/newsround\/48789792)\n- [Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum - Apollo 11](https:\/\/airandspace.si.edu\/explore\/stories\/apollo-11-moon-landing)\n- [Royal Museums Greenwich - Apollo 11 crew](https:\/\/www.rmg.co.uk\/stories\/space-astronomy\/apollo-11-crew)\n- [NASA - Apollo 11](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/apollo-11\/)\n- [The Planetary Society - Apollo 11](https:\/\/www.planetary.org\/space-missions\/apollo-11)\n\nBritannica Websites\n\nArticles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.\n\n- [Apollo 11 - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)](https:\/\/kids.britannica.com\/students\/article\/Apollo-11\/631767)\n\nFeedback\n\nThank you for your feedback\n\nOur editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.\n\n*print* Print\n\nPlease select which sections you would like to print:\n\n*verified*Cite\n\nWhile every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.\n\nSelect Citation Style\n\nBritannica Editors. \"Neil Armstrong\". *Encyclopedia Britannica*, 6 Feb. 2026, https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong. Accessed 4 April 2026.\n\nCopy Citation\n\nShare\n\nShare to social media\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BRITANNICA\/) [X](https:\/\/x.com\/britannica)\n\nURL\n\n<https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong>\n\nExternal Websites\n\n- [The MY HERO Project - Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/myhero.com\/N_Armstrong_dnhs_ay_US_2016_ul)\n- [Astronaut Scholarship Foundation - Astronauts Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/www.astronautscholarship.org\/astronauts-neil-armstrong\/)\n- [New Mexico Museum of Space History - Neil A. Armstrong](https:\/\/nmspacemuseum.org\/inductee\/neil-a-armstrong\/)\n- [Bill of Rights Institute - Neil Armstrong and the Moon Landing](https:\/\/billofrightsinstitute.org\/essays\/neil-armstrong-and-the-moon-landing)\n- [NASA - Neil A. Armstrong](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/neil-a-armstrong\/)\n- [Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum - Remembering Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/airandspace.si.edu\/stories\/editorial\/remembering-neil-armstrong)\n- [Official Site of Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/www.neilarmstrong.com\/)\n- [Space.com - Neil Armstrong: First Man on the Moon](https:\/\/www.space.com\/15519-neil-armstrong-man-moon.html)\n- [National Aviation Hall of Fame - Biography of Neil Alden Armstrong](https:\/\/nationalaviation.org\/enshrinee\/neil-alden-armstrong\/)\n\nBritannica Websites\n\nArticles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.\n\n- [Neil Armstrong - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)](https:\/\/kids.britannica.com\/kids\/article\/Neil-Armstrong\/352784)\n- [Neil Armstrong - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)](https:\/\/kids.britannica.com\/students\/article\/Neil-Armstrong\/272958)","attrs_readable_markdown":"Top Questions\n\n### When was Apollo 11 launched?\n### What was the mission objective of Apollo 11?\n### Who were the crew members of Apollo 11?\n### When did Apollo 11 land on the Moon?\n### How fast did Apollo 11 travel?\n## News •\n**Apollo 11**, U.S. [spaceflight](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/spaceflight) during which commander [Neil Armstrong](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neil-Armstrong) and lunar module pilot [Edwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin, Jr.](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Buzz-Aldrin), on July 20, 1969, became the first people to land on the [Moon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Moon) and walk the lunar surface. Apollo 11 was the [culmination](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/culmination) of the [Apollo program](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/Apollo-space-program) and a massive national commitment by the [United States](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/United-States) to beat the [Soviet Union](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Soviet-Union) in putting people on the Moon. All told, 24 Apollo astronauts visited the Moon and 12 of them [walked on its surface](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/how-many-people-have-been-to-the-moon). Additional [NASA](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/NASA) astronauts are scheduled to return to the Moon by 2025 as part of the [Artemis](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Artemis-program) space program.\n\nFrom the time of its launch on July 16, 1969, until the return splashdown on July 24, almost every major aspect of the flight of Apollo 11 was witnessed via [television](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/television-technology) by hundreds of millions of people in nearly every part of the globe. The pulse of humanity rose with the giant, 111-metre- (363-foot-) high, 3,038,500-kg (6,698,700-pound) [Saturn](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/Saturn-launch-vehicle) V [launch vehicle](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/launch-vehicle) as it made its flawless flight from Pad 39A at Cape Kennedy (now [Cape Canaveral](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Cape-Canaveral)), [Florida](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Florida), before hundreds of thousands of spectators. So accurate was the translunar insertion that three of the en route [trajectory](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/trajectory) corrections planned were not necessary. Aboard Apollo 11 were Armstrong, Aldrin, and command module pilot [Michael Collins](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Michael-Collins-American-astronaut). Their enthusiasm was evident from the beginning, as Armstrong exclaimed, “This Saturn gave us a magnificent ride.…It was beautiful!”\n\nThe third stage of the Saturn then fired to start the crew on their 376,400-km (234,000-mile) journey to the Moon. The three [astronauts](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/astronaut) conducted their transposition and docking maneuvers, first turning the command module, *Columbia*, and its attached service module around and then extracting the lunar module from its resting place above the Saturn’s third stage. On their arrival the astronauts slowed the [spacecraft](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/spacecraft) so that it would go into lunar [orbit](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/orbit-astronomy). Apollo 11 entered first an [elliptical](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/elliptical) orbit 114 by 313 km (71 by 194 miles) and then a nearly circular orbit between 100 and 122 km (62 and 76 miles) above the surface of the Moon.\n\n[![Quiz thumbnail, \"What Happened on this Very Important Date\" quiz. A push pin on a calendar](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/88\/259288-131-D51AA72F\/quiz-thumbnail-what-happened-on-this-very-important-date.jpg) Britannica Quiz What Very Big Thing Happened on This Day?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/what-very-big-thing-happened-on-this-day)\n\n[Apollo 11 lunar module, *Eagle*](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/18\/418-050-613974C9\/Eagle-Grumman-lunar-module-Apollo-11-footpads-July-20-1969.jpg)Grumman-built Apollo 11 lunar module, *Eagle*, with its four footpads deployed for touchdown. This photograph was taken from the Apollo 11 command module as the two spacecraft moved apart above the Moon on July 20, 1969.\n\nOn the morning of July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin crawled from the command module through an interconnecting tunnel into the lunar module, *[Eagle](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Eagle-United-States-lunar-module)*. Toward the end of the 12th lunar orbit, the Apollo 11 spacecraft became two separate spacecraft: *Columbia*, piloted by Collins, and *Eagle*, occupied by Armstrong and Aldrin.\n\nBy firing *Eagle*’s propulsion system, the two astronauts changed from their nearly circular orbit to an elliptical course whose closest approach to the Moon was only 15,000 metres (50,000 feet). At this low point they again fired their engine, this time to undergo the powered descent initiation maneuver. Five times during the descent, the guidance computer triggered an alarm (called “1202” or “1201”) that its memory was full, but NASA [simulations](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/simulations) before the mission showed that a landing could still happen despite the alarm, and thus Mission Control told the astronauts to continue the descent. At about 150 metres (500 feet) above the surface, Armstrong began maneuvering the craft manually (although the main engine continued under automatic control) to avoid landing in a rock-strewn crater.\n\nFor about a minute and a half, Armstrong hovered *Eagle*, moving it laterally with the reaction control system until he found a clear area on which to descend. Then the contact light went on inside the cockpit, as the 172-cm (68-inch) probes dangling below *Eagle*’s footpads signaled contact with the ground. One second later the [descent](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/descent) rocket engine was cut off, as the astronauts gazed down onto a sheet of lunar soil blown radially in all directions. Armstrong then radioed at 4:17 pm U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The *Eagle* has landed.” *Eagle* had touched down in the [Sea of Tranquility](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/Mare-Tranquillitatis), an area selected for its level and smooth terrain.\n\nAt 10:56 pm EDT on July 20, Armstrong stepped out onto the lunar soil with the words, “That’s one small step for \\[a\\] man, one giant leap for mankind.” (In the excitement of the moment, Armstrong skipped the “a” in the statement that he had prepared.) He immediately described the surface as “fine and powdery” and said that there was no difficulty moving about. Aldrin joined his companion about 20 minutes later.\n\nGo beyond the basics with trusted, in-depth knowledge for professionals, students, and lifelong learners.\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=basics-2026)\n\n![Penguin, ship, mountain, atlas](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-left.webp)\n\n![shohei ohtani, plants, andy wharhol art](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-right.webp)\n\n![Mobile](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-mobile.webp?w=400)\n\n[Buzz Aldrin on the Moon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/65022-004-1A7CC8C4\/Edwin-Aldrin-Jr-surface-Moon-Passive-Seismic.jpg)Edwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin, Jr., deploying the Passive Seismic Experiments Package (PSEP) on the Moon's surface. The lunar module *Eagle* from Apollo 11 is in the background.\n\nDuring their [moon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/moon-natural-satellite) walk of more than two hours, Armstrong and Aldrin set up a device to measure the [composition](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/composition) of the [solar wind](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/solar-wind) reaching the Moon, a device to receive [laser](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/laser) beams from [astronomical observatories](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/astronomical-observatory) on [Earth](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Earth) to determine the exact distance of the two bodies from one another, and a passive [seismometer](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/seismograph) to measure moonquakes and [meteor](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/meteor) impacts long after the astronauts had returned home. They also took about 23 kg (50 pounds) of [rock](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/rock-geology) and soil samples, took many photographs, and maintained constant communication with mission control in [Houston](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Houston), [Texas](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Texas-state). After 21 hours 38 minutes on the Moon’s surface, the astronauts used *Eagle*’s ascent stage to launch it back into lunar orbit. After various maneuvers, *Eagle* once again docked with Collins in *Columbia*, and the trip back to Earth began soon afterward.\n\nSplashdown of Apollo 11 occurred in the [Pacific Ocean](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Pacific-Ocean) about 1,400 km (900 miles) west of [Hawaii](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Hawaii-state) on July 24. The astronauts were immediately placed in [quarantine](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/quarantine-preventive-medicine) in a van on the recovery ship. From there they were flown to the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, where they were transferred into the large, 58-room Lunar Receiving Laboratory. The quarantine lasted 21 days from the time *Eagle* took off from the Moon; during that period the astronauts were checked for any [diseases](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/disease) they might have picked up on the Moon, and the lunar samples were subjected to preliminary analysis.\n\nQuick Facts\n\nDate:\n\nJuly 16, 1969 - July 24, 1969\n\n*Columbia* is part of the collections of the [National Air and Space Museum](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/National-Air-and-Space-Museum) in [Washington, D.C.](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Washington-DC)","meta_canonical":null}

3. Robots.txt Check

Query:

Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

Query:

Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

📄

INDEXABLE

✅

CRAWLED

2 days ago

🤖

ROBOTS ALLOWED

Page Info Filters

Filter	Status	Condition	Details
HTTP status	PASS	`download_http_code = 200`	HTTP 200
Age cutoff	PASS	`download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH`	0.1 months ago
History drop	PASS	`isNull(history_drop_reason)`	No drop reason
Spam/ban	PASS	`fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0`	ml_spam_score=0
Canonical	PASS	`meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed`	Not set

Page Details

Property	Value
URL	https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11
Last Crawled	2026-04-04 14:03:01 (2 days ago)
First Indexed	2016-08-25 20:45:31 (9 years ago)
HTTP Status Code	200
Meta Title	Apollo 11 \| History, Mission, Landing, Astronauts, Pictures, Spacecraft, & Facts \| Britannica
Meta Description	Apollo 11, U.S. spaceflight in which astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to walk on the Moon. Apollo 11 was the culmination of the Apollo program and a massive national commitment by the United States to beat the Soviet Union in putting people on the Moon.
Meta Canonical	null
Boilerpipe Text	Top Questions When was Apollo 11 launched? What was the mission objective of Apollo 11? Who were the crew members of Apollo 11? When did Apollo 11 land on the Moon? How fast did Apollo 11 travel? News • Apollo 11 , U.S. spaceflight during which commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Edwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin, Jr. , on July 20, 1969, became the first people to land on the Moon and walk the lunar surface. Apollo 11 was the culmination of the Apollo program and a massive national commitment by the United States to beat the Soviet Union in putting people on the Moon. All told, 24 Apollo astronauts visited the Moon and 12 of them walked on its surface . Additional NASA astronauts are scheduled to return to the Moon by 2025 as part of the Artemis space program. From the time of its launch on July 16, 1969, until the return splashdown on July 24, almost every major aspect of the flight of Apollo 11 was witnessed via television by hundreds of millions of people in nearly every part of the globe. The pulse of humanity rose with the giant, 111-metre- (363-foot-) high, 3,038,500-kg (6,698,700-pound) Saturn V launch vehicle as it made its flawless flight from Pad 39A at Cape Kennedy (now Cape Canaveral ), Florida , before hundreds of thousands of spectators. So accurate was the translunar insertion that three of the en route trajectory corrections planned were not necessary. Aboard Apollo 11 were Armstrong, Aldrin, and command module pilot Michael Collins . Their enthusiasm was evident from the beginning, as Armstrong exclaimed, “This Saturn gave us a magnificent ride.…It was beautiful!” The third stage of the Saturn then fired to start the crew on their 376,400-km (234,000-mile) journey to the Moon. The three astronauts conducted their transposition and docking maneuvers, first turning the command module, Columbia , and its attached service module around and then extracting the lunar module from its resting place above the Saturn’s third stage. On their arrival the astronauts slowed the spacecraft so that it would go into lunar orbit . Apollo 11 entered first an elliptical orbit 114 by 313 km (71 by 194 miles) and then a nearly circular orbit between 100 and 122 km (62 and 76 miles) above the surface of the Moon. Britannica Quiz What Very Big Thing Happened on This Day? Apollo 11 lunar module, Eagle Grumman-built Apollo 11 lunar module, Eagle , with its four footpads deployed for touchdown. This photograph was taken from the Apollo 11 command module as the two spacecraft moved apart above the Moon on July 20, 1969. On the morning of July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin crawled from the command module through an interconnecting tunnel into the lunar module, Eagle . Toward the end of the 12th lunar orbit, the Apollo 11 spacecraft became two separate spacecraft: Columbia , piloted by Collins, and Eagle , occupied by Armstrong and Aldrin. By firing Eagle ’s propulsion system, the two astronauts changed from their nearly circular orbit to an elliptical course whose closest approach to the Moon was only 15,000 metres (50,000 feet). At this low point they again fired their engine, this time to undergo the powered descent initiation maneuver. Five times during the descent, the guidance computer triggered an alarm (called “1202” or “1201”) that its memory was full, but NASA simulations before the mission showed that a landing could still happen despite the alarm, and thus Mission Control told the astronauts to continue the descent. At about 150 metres (500 feet) above the surface, Armstrong began maneuvering the craft manually (although the main engine continued under automatic control) to avoid landing in a rock-strewn crater. For about a minute and a half, Armstrong hovered Eagle , moving it laterally with the reaction control system until he found a clear area on which to descend. Then the contact light went on inside the cockpit, as the 172-cm (68-inch) probes dangling below Eagle ’s footpads signaled contact with the ground. One second later the descent rocket engine was cut off, as the astronauts gazed down onto a sheet of lunar soil blown radially in all directions. Armstrong then radioed at 4:17 pm U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” Eagle had touched down in the Sea of Tranquility , an area selected for its level and smooth terrain. At 10:56 pm EDT on July 20, Armstrong stepped out onto the lunar soil with the words, “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” (In the excitement of the moment, Armstrong skipped the “a” in the statement that he had prepared.) He immediately described the surface as “fine and powdery” and said that there was no difficulty moving about. Aldrin joined his companion about 20 minutes later. Go beyond the basics with trusted, in-depth knowledge for professionals, students, and lifelong learners. SUBSCRIBE Buzz Aldrin on the Moon Edwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin, Jr., deploying the Passive Seismic Experiments Package (PSEP) on the Moon's surface. The lunar module Eagle from Apollo 11 is in the background. During their moon walk of more than two hours, Armstrong and Aldrin set up a device to measure the composition of the solar wind reaching the Moon, a device to receive laser beams from astronomical observatories on Earth to determine the exact distance of the two bodies from one another, and a passive seismometer to measure moonquakes and meteor impacts long after the astronauts had returned home. They also took about 23 kg (50 pounds) of rock and soil samples, took many photographs, and maintained constant communication with mission control in Houston , Texas . After 21 hours 38 minutes on the Moon’s surface, the astronauts used Eagle ’s ascent stage to launch it back into lunar orbit. After various maneuvers, Eagle once again docked with Collins in Columbia , and the trip back to Earth began soon afterward. Splashdown of Apollo 11 occurred in the Pacific Ocean about 1,400 km (900 miles) west of Hawaii on July 24. The astronauts were immediately placed in quarantine in a van on the recovery ship. From there they were flown to the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, where they were transferred into the large, 58-room Lunar Receiving Laboratory. The quarantine lasted 21 days from the time Eagle took off from the Moon; during that period the astronauts were checked for any diseases they might have picked up on the Moon, and the lunar samples were subjected to preliminary analysis. Quick Facts Date: July 16, 1969 - July 24, 1969 Columbia is part of the collections of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Markdown	[![Encyclopedia Britannica](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png)](https://www.britannica.com/) [![Encyclopedia Britannica](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png)](https://www.britannica.com/) [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen) [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav-mobile&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen) Login https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm\_source=premium\&utm\_medium=nav-login-box\&utm\_campaign=evergreen [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=hamburger-menu&utm_campaign=blue) [Ask the Chatbot](https://www.britannica.com/chatbot) [Games & Quizzes](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/browse) [History & Society](https://www.britannica.com/History-Society) [Science & Tech](https://www.britannica.com/Science-Tech) [Biographies](https://www.britannica.com/Biographies) [Animals & Nature](https://www.britannica.com/Animals-Nature) [Geography & Travel](https://www.britannica.com/Geography-Travel) [Arts & Culture](https://www.britannica.com/Arts-Culture) [ProCon](https://www.britannica.com/procon) [Money](https://www.britannica.com/money) [Videos](https://www.britannica.com/videos) [Apollo 11](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11) [Introduction & Top Questions](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11) [References & Edit History](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11/additional-info) [Quick Facts & Related Topics](https://www.britannica.com/facts/Apollo-11) [Images, Videos & Interactives](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11/images-videos) [![Buzz Aldrin on the Moon](https://cdn.britannica.com/24/71324-120-CA22C4BA/Edwin-Aldrin-Moon-July-20-1969.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/24/71324-050-894661C8/Edwin-Aldrin-Moon-July-20-1969.jpg) [![Apollo 11 crew](https://cdn.britannica.com/92/118692-004-09AA5B8E/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/92/118692-050-194A0468/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg) [![Apollo 11's incredible journey to the Moon](https://cdn.britannica.com/01/216701-138-14E04184/Just-the-facts-Apollo-11-moon-landing.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/Just-the-facts-Apollo-11-moon-landing/-246490) [![Apollo 11](https://cdn.britannica.com/80/144580-004-503E6074/Launch-Apollo-11-July-16-1969.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/80/144580-050-2840ED84/Launch-Apollo-11-July-16-1969.jpg) [![Apollo program infographic.](https://cdn.britannica.com/78/206878-004-68B00D19/Apollo-program-space-command-service-lunar-module.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/78/206878-050-68B00D19/Apollo-program-space-command-service-lunar-module.jpg) [![Explore the timeline of the Apollo missions that led the United States to land the first humans on the Moon.](https://cdn.britannica.com/57/206457-004-8641EF6E/Apollo-space-program-United-States-NASA-moon-landing.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/57/206457-050-8641EF6E/Apollo-space-program-United-States-NASA-moon-landing.jpg) [![Apollo 11 lunar module, Eagle](https://cdn.britannica.com/18/418-004-18BC0DEE/Eagle-Grumman-lunar-module-Apollo-11-footpads-July-20-1969.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/18/418-050-613974C9/Eagle-Grumman-lunar-module-Apollo-11-footpads-July-20-1969.jpg) [![Interactive: A Tour of the Moon's Landmarks.](https://cdn.britannica.com/24/255324-049-6389DC7C/3d-tour-earth-moon.jpg)](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11) [![Neil Armstrong takes humankind's first steps on the lunar surface during NASA's Apollo 11 mission](https://cdn.britannica.com/83/23183-138-3E257FAE/famous-Neil-Armstrong-space-films-clips-arrival-July-20-1969.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/famous-Neil-Armstrong-space-films-clips-arrival-July-20-1969/-8519) [![footprint on the Moon](https://cdn.britannica.com/29/76829-120-9658164B/lunar-soil-Cohesiveness-Edwin-Aldrin-boot-print-July-1969.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/29/76829-050-CD9C4B43/lunar-soil-Cohesiveness-Edwin-Aldrin-boot-print-July-1969.jpg) Quizzes [![Quiz thumbnail, "What Happened on this Very Important Date" quiz. A push pin on a calendar](https://cdn.britannica.com/88/259288-131-D51AA72F/quiz-thumbnail-what-happened-on-this-very-important-date.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/what-very-big-thing-happened-on-this-day) [What Very Big Thing Happened on This Day?](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/what-very-big-thing-happened-on-this-day) [![Soil cohesiveness demonstrated in bootprint of Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11. footprint; foot print; moon](https://cdn.britannica.com/29/76829-131-9658164B/lunar-soil-Cohesiveness-Edwin-Aldrin-boot-print-July-1969.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/space-exploration) [Space Exploration](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/space-exploration) [![Buzz Aldrin. Apollo 11. Apollo 11 astronaut Edwin Aldrin, photographed July 20, 1969, during the first manned mission to the Moon's surface. Reflected in Aldrin's faceplate is the Lunar Module and astronaut Neil Armstrong, who took the picture.](https://cdn.britannica.com/24/71324-131-CA22C4BA/Edwin-Aldrin-Moon-July-20-1969.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/exploration-and-discovery) [Exploration and Discovery](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/exploration-and-discovery) [![Edwin E. Aldrin (Buzz Aldrin) stands on the moon, Apollo 11](https://cdn.britannica.com/14/188714-131-87D4E380/moon-Edwin-E-Aldrin-Apollo-11.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/famous-astronauts-and-cosmonauts) [Famous Astronauts and Cosmonauts](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/famous-astronauts-and-cosmonauts) Related Questions - [When was Apollo 11 launched?](https://www.britannica.com/question/When-was-Apollo-11-launched) - [What does the pink moon mean?](https://www.britannica.com/question/What-does-the-pink-moon-mean) - [When is the pink moon?](https://www.britannica.com/question/When-is-the-pink-moon) - [How many Apollo missions failed?](https://www.britannica.com/question/How-many-Apollo-missions-failed) - [How many Apollo astronauts are still alive?](https://www.britannica.com/question/How-many-Apollo-astronauts-are-still-alive) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-178/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5) Ask Anything Quick Summary [Science](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Science) [Astronomy](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Astronomy) CITE Share Feedback External Websites [![Buzz Aldrin on the Moon](https://cdn.britannica.com/24/71324-050-894661C8/Edwin-Aldrin-Moon-July-20-1969.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https://cdn.britannica.com/24/71324-050-894661C8/Edwin-Aldrin-Moon-July-20-1969.jpg) [Buzz Aldrin on the Moon](https://cdn.britannica.com/24/71324-050-894661C8/Edwin-Aldrin-Moon-July-20-1969.jpg) U.S. astronaut Buzz Aldrin walking on the Moon, July 20, 1969. (more) # Apollo 11 United States spaceflight Homework Help Written and fact-checked by [Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 4, 2026 •[History](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11/additional-info#history) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-178/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5) Britannica AI Ask Anything Quick Summary Table of Contents Table of Contents Quick Summary Ask Anything Top Questions ### When was Apollo 11 launched? Apollo 11, the first space mission to put people on the Moon, was launched on July 16, 1969. Almost every major aspect of the flight of Apollo 11 was witnessed via television by hundreds of millions of people in nearly every part of the globe, until splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on July 24. ### What was the mission objective of Apollo 11? Apollo 11’s mission objective was to land [astronauts](https://www.britannica.com/topic/astronaut) on the [Moon](https://www.britannica.com/place/Moon) and return them safely back to [Earth](https://www.britannica.com/place/Earth). It succeeded in its objective by landing [Neil Armstrong](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong) and [Buzz Aldrin](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Buzz-Aldrin) on the Moon on July 20, 1969. ### Who were the crew members of Apollo 11? Apollo 11’s crew members were commander [Neil Armstrong](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong), lunar module pilot [Buzz Aldrin](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Buzz-Aldrin), and command module pilot [Michael Collins](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Collins-American-astronaut). ### When did Apollo 11 land on the Moon? The lunar module Eagle of the Apollo 11 mission landed on the Moon on July 20, 1969. [Neil Armstrong](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong) and [Buzz Aldrin](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Buzz-Aldrin) became the first people to land on the Moon and walk on the lunar surface. ### How fast did Apollo 11 travel? The fastest speed Apollo 11 achieved was 39,715 kilometers (24,678 miles) per hour when the command module reentered Earth’s atmosphere on July 24, 1969. ## News • [Dorset's former Nasa engineer says Moon is 'stepping stone' to Mars](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxkv454n7zo) • Apr. 1, 2026, 9:00 AM ET (BBC) Show less [![Apollo 11 crew](https://cdn.britannica.com/92/118692-050-194A0468/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/92/118692-050-194A0468/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg) [Apollo 11 crew](https://cdn.britannica.com/92/118692-050-194A0468/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg)The crew of Apollo 11 (from left): Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin. (more) Apollo 11, U.S. [spaceflight](https://www.britannica.com/science/spaceflight) during which commander [Neil Armstrong](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong) and lunar module pilot [Edwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin, Jr.](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Buzz-Aldrin), on July 20, 1969, became the first people to land on the [Moon](https://www.britannica.com/place/Moon) and walk the lunar surface. Apollo 11 was the [culmination](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/culmination) of the [Apollo program](https://www.britannica.com/science/Apollo-space-program) and a massive national commitment by the [United States](https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States) to beat the [Soviet Union](https://www.britannica.com/place/Soviet-Union) in putting people on the Moon. All told, 24 Apollo astronauts visited the Moon and 12 of them [walked on its surface](https://www.britannica.com/story/how-many-people-have-been-to-the-moon). Additional [NASA](https://www.britannica.com/topic/NASA) astronauts are scheduled to return to the Moon by 2025 as part of the [Artemis](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Artemis-program) space program. [![Apollo 11's incredible journey to the Moon](https://cdn.britannica.com/01/216701-138-14E04184/Just-the-facts-Apollo-11-moon-landing.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)1 of 4](https://www.britannica.com/video/Just-the-facts-Apollo-11-moon-landing/-246490) Apollo 11's incredible journey to the MoonOverview of the Apollo 11 spaceflight in which U.S. astronauts became the first people to walk on the Moon. (more) [See all videos for this article](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11/images-videos) [![Apollo 11](https://cdn.britannica.com/80/144580-050-2840ED84/Launch-Apollo-11-July-16-1969.jpg?w=300)2 of 4](https://cdn.britannica.com/80/144580-050-2840ED84/Launch-Apollo-11-July-16-1969.jpg) [Apollo 11](https://cdn.britannica.com/80/144580-050-2840ED84/Launch-Apollo-11-July-16-1969.jpg)Launch of Apollo 11, July 16, 1969. (more) [![Apollo program infographic.](https://cdn.britannica.com/78/206878-050-68B00D19/Apollo-program-space-command-service-lunar-module.jpg)3 of 4](https://cdn.britannica.com/78/206878-050-68B00D19/Apollo-program-space-command-service-lunar-module.jpg) [Apollo program infographic.](https://cdn.britannica.com/78/206878-050-68B00D19/Apollo-program-space-command-service-lunar-module.jpg)The Apollo program: Major elements of the U.S. Apollo program, showing the Saturn V launch vehicle and configurations of the Apollo spacecraft modules at launch and during their journey to the Moon in an infographic. (more) [![Explore the timeline of the Apollo missions that led the United States to land the first humans on the Moon.](https://cdn.britannica.com/57/206457-050-8641EF6E/Apollo-space-program-United-States-NASA-moon-landing.jpg)4 of 4](https://cdn.britannica.com/57/206457-050-8641EF6E/Apollo-space-program-United-States-NASA-moon-landing.jpg) [Explore the timeline of the Apollo missions that led the United States to land the first humans on the Moon.](https://cdn.britannica.com/57/206457-050-8641EF6E/Apollo-space-program-United-States-NASA-moon-landing.jpg) Timeline and infographic of the Apollo space missions. (more) From the time of its launch on July 16, 1969, until the return splashdown on July 24, almost every major aspect of the flight of Apollo 11 was witnessed via [television](https://www.britannica.com/technology/television-technology) by hundreds of millions of people in nearly every part of the globe. The pulse of humanity rose with the giant, 111-metre- (363-foot-) high, 3,038,500-kg (6,698,700-pound) [Saturn](https://www.britannica.com/technology/Saturn-launch-vehicle) V [launch vehicle](https://www.britannica.com/technology/launch-vehicle) as it made its flawless flight from Pad 39A at Cape Kennedy (now [Cape Canaveral](https://www.britannica.com/place/Cape-Canaveral)), [Florida](https://www.britannica.com/place/Florida), before hundreds of thousands of spectators. So accurate was the translunar insertion that three of the en route [trajectory](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/trajectory) corrections planned were not necessary. Aboard Apollo 11 were Armstrong, Aldrin, and command module pilot [Michael Collins](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Collins-American-astronaut). Their enthusiasm was evident from the beginning, as Armstrong exclaimed, “This Saturn gave us a magnificent ride.…It was beautiful!” The third stage of the Saturn then fired to start the crew on their 376,400-km (234,000-mile) journey to the Moon. The three [astronauts](https://www.britannica.com/topic/astronaut) conducted their transposition and docking maneuvers, first turning the command module, Columbia, and its attached service module around and then extracting the lunar module from its resting place above the Saturn’s third stage. On their arrival the astronauts slowed the [spacecraft](https://www.britannica.com/technology/spacecraft) so that it would go into lunar [orbit](https://www.britannica.com/science/orbit-astronomy). Apollo 11 entered first an [elliptical](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/elliptical) orbit 114 by 313 km (71 by 194 miles) and then a nearly circular orbit between 100 and 122 km (62 and 76 miles) above the surface of the Moon. [![Quiz thumbnail, "What Happened on this Very Important Date" quiz. A push pin on a calendar](https://cdn.britannica.com/88/259288-131-D51AA72F/quiz-thumbnail-what-happened-on-this-very-important-date.jpg) Britannica Quiz What Very Big Thing Happened on This Day?](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/what-very-big-thing-happened-on-this-day) [![Apollo 11 lunar module, Eagle](https://cdn.britannica.com/18/418-050-613974C9/Eagle-Grumman-lunar-module-Apollo-11-footpads-July-20-1969.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/18/418-050-613974C9/Eagle-Grumman-lunar-module-Apollo-11-footpads-July-20-1969.jpg) [Apollo 11 lunar module, Eagle](https://cdn.britannica.com/18/418-050-613974C9/Eagle-Grumman-lunar-module-Apollo-11-footpads-July-20-1969.jpg)Grumman-built Apollo 11 lunar module, Eagle, with its four footpads deployed for touchdown. This photograph was taken from the Apollo 11 command module as the two spacecraft moved apart above the Moon on July 20, 1969. (more) On the morning of July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin crawled from the command module through an interconnecting tunnel into the lunar module, [Eagle](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eagle-United-States-lunar-module). Toward the end of the 12th lunar orbit, the Apollo 11 spacecraft became two separate spacecraft: Columbia, piloted by Collins, and Eagle, occupied by Armstrong and Aldrin. By firing Eagle’s propulsion system, the two astronauts changed from their nearly circular orbit to an elliptical course whose closest approach to the Moon was only 15,000 metres (50,000 feet). At this low point they again fired their engine, this time to undergo the powered descent initiation maneuver. Five times during the descent, the guidance computer triggered an alarm (called “1202” or “1201”) that its memory was full, but NASA [simulations](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/simulations) before the mission showed that a landing could still happen despite the alarm, and thus Mission Control told the astronauts to continue the descent. At about 150 metres (500 feet) above the surface, Armstrong began maneuvering the craft manually (although the main engine continued under automatic control) to avoid landing in a rock-strewn crater. For about a minute and a half, Armstrong hovered Eagle, moving it laterally with the reaction control system until he found a clear area on which to descend. Then the contact light went on inside the cockpit, as the 172-cm (68-inch) probes dangling below Eagle’s footpads signaled contact with the ground. One second later the [descent](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/descent) rocket engine was cut off, as the astronauts gazed down onto a sheet of lunar soil blown radially in all directions. Armstrong then radioed at 4:17 pm U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” Eagle had touched down in the [Sea of Tranquility](https://www.britannica.com/science/Mare-Tranquillitatis), an area selected for its level and smooth terrain. [![Neil Armstrong takes humankind's first steps on the lunar surface during NASA's Apollo 11 mission](https://cdn.britannica.com/83/23183-138-3E257FAE/famous-Neil-Armstrong-space-films-clips-arrival-July-20-1969.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)1 of 2](https://www.britannica.com/video/famous-Neil-Armstrong-space-films-clips-arrival-July-20-1969/-8519) Neil Armstrong takes humankind's first steps on the lunar surface during NASA's Apollo 11 missionPerhaps the most famous of all space films, these clips document the arrival of the first human beings on the Moon on July 20, 1969. (more) [See all videos for this article](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11/images-videos) [![footprint on the Moon](https://cdn.britannica.com/29/76829-050-CD9C4B43/lunar-soil-Cohesiveness-Edwin-Aldrin-boot-print-July-1969.jpg?w=300)2 of 2](https://cdn.britannica.com/29/76829-050-CD9C4B43/lunar-soil-Cohesiveness-Edwin-Aldrin-boot-print-July-1969.jpg) [footprint on the Moon](https://cdn.britannica.com/29/76829-050-CD9C4B43/lunar-soil-Cohesiveness-Edwin-Aldrin-boot-print-July-1969.jpg)Cohesiveness of lunar soil, demonstrated qualitatively in a crisply defined boot print left on the Moon by U.S. astronaut Edwin Aldrin during the Apollo 11 mission, July 1969. Aldrin photographed the print as part of a study of the nature of the soil and its compaction behavior. This image has also become an icon of the first visit by humans to another world. (more) At 10:56 pm EDT on July 20, Armstrong stepped out onto the lunar soil with the words, “That’s one small step for \[a\] man, one giant leap for mankind.” (In the excitement of the moment, Armstrong skipped the “a” in the statement that he had prepared.) He immediately described the surface as “fine and powdery” and said that there was no difficulty moving about. Aldrin joined his companion about 20 minutes later. Explore Britannica Premium\! Go beyond the basics with trusted, in-depth knowledge for professionals, students, and lifelong learners. [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=basics-2026) ![Penguin, ship, mountain, atlas](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-left.webp) ![shohei ohtani, plants, andy wharhol art](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-right.webp) ![Mobile](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-mobile.webp?w=400) [![Buzz Aldrin on the Moon](https://cdn.britannica.com/22/65022-004-1A7CC8C4/Edwin-Aldrin-Jr-surface-Moon-Passive-Seismic.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/22/65022-004-1A7CC8C4/Edwin-Aldrin-Jr-surface-Moon-Passive-Seismic.jpg) [Buzz Aldrin on the Moon](https://cdn.britannica.com/22/65022-004-1A7CC8C4/Edwin-Aldrin-Jr-surface-Moon-Passive-Seismic.jpg)Edwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin, Jr., deploying the Passive Seismic Experiments Package (PSEP) on the Moon's surface. The lunar module Eagle from Apollo 11 is in the background. (more) During their [moon](https://www.britannica.com/science/moon-natural-satellite) walk of more than two hours, Armstrong and Aldrin set up a device to measure the [composition](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/composition) of the [solar wind](https://www.britannica.com/science/solar-wind) reaching the Moon, a device to receive [laser](https://www.britannica.com/technology/laser) beams from [astronomical observatories](https://www.britannica.com/science/astronomical-observatory) on [Earth](https://www.britannica.com/place/Earth) to determine the exact distance of the two bodies from one another, and a passive [seismometer](https://www.britannica.com/science/seismograph) to measure moonquakes and [meteor](https://www.britannica.com/science/meteor) impacts long after the astronauts had returned home. They also took about 23 kg (50 pounds) of [rock](https://www.britannica.com/science/rock-geology) and soil samples, took many photographs, and maintained constant communication with mission control in [Houston](https://www.britannica.com/place/Houston), [Texas](https://www.britannica.com/place/Texas-state). After 21 hours 38 minutes on the Moon’s surface, the astronauts used Eagle’s ascent stage to launch it back into lunar orbit. After various maneuvers, Eagle once again docked with Collins in Columbia, and the trip back to Earth began soon afterward. [![Moon: seen from Apollo 11](https://cdn.britannica.com/89/145489-050-4E9609BA/moon-return-journey-Apollo-11-July-21-1969.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/89/145489-050-4E9609BA/moon-return-journey-Apollo-11-July-21-1969.jpg) [Moon: seen from Apollo 11](https://cdn.britannica.com/89/145489-050-4E9609BA/moon-return-journey-Apollo-11-July-21-1969.jpg)Full moon seen from Apollo 11 on its return journey, July 21, 1969. (more) Splashdown of Apollo 11 occurred in the [Pacific Ocean](https://www.britannica.com/place/Pacific-Ocean) about 1,400 km (900 miles) west of [Hawaii](https://www.britannica.com/place/Hawaii-state) on July 24. The astronauts were immediately placed in [quarantine](https://www.britannica.com/science/quarantine-preventive-medicine) in a van on the recovery ship. From there they were flown to the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, where they were transferred into the large, 58-room Lunar Receiving Laboratory. The quarantine lasted 21 days from the time Eagle took off from the Moon; during that period the astronauts were checked for any [diseases](https://www.britannica.com/science/disease) they might have picked up on the Moon, and the lunar samples were subjected to preliminary analysis. Quick Facts Date: July 16, 1969 - July 24, 1969 (Show more) Context: [Apollo](https://www.britannica.com/science/Apollo-space-program) [space exploration](https://www.britannica.com/science/space-exploration) (Show more) Key People: [Buzz Aldrin](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Buzz-Aldrin) [Neil Armstrong](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong) [Michael Collins](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Collins-American-astronaut) [Katherine Johnson](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Katherine-Johnson) (Show more) [See all related content](https://www.britannica.com/facts/Apollo-11) Columbia is part of the collections of the [National Air and Space Museum](https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Air-and-Space-Museum) in [Washington, D.C.](https://www.britannica.com/place/Washington-DC) [The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419)This article was most recently revised and updated by [Erik Gregersen](https://www.britannica.com/editor/Erik-Gregersen/6723). ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-178/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5)Britannica AI chevron\_right Apollo 11 close [AI-generated answers](https://www.britannica.com/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. [Neil Armstrong](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong) - [Introduction & Top Questions](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong) - [Early life and career](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong#ref336457) - [Moon landing](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong#ref336458) - [Timeline of the Apollo program](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong#ref380447) - [Later career](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong#ref336459) [Quotes](https://www.britannica.com/quotes/Neil-Armstrong) [References & Edit History](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong/additional-info) [Quick Facts & Related Topics](https://www.britannica.com/facts/Neil-Armstrong) [Images, Videos & Interactives](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong/images-videos) [![Neil Armstrong](https://cdn.britannica.com/72/163272-004-9BE1CA0A/Neil-Armstrong-American.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/72/163272-050-1C5BC2B7/Neil-Armstrong-American.jpg) [![Neil Armstrong](https://cdn.britannica.com/76/13376-004-F9229344/Neil-Armstrong-1969.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/76/13376-050-533EDBC0/Neil-Armstrong-1969.jpg) [![Neil Armstrong](https://cdn.britannica.com/32/168932-004-05092041/Neil-Armstrong-American-launch-Gemini-8-Florida-March-1966.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/32/168932-050-DA330336/Neil-Armstrong-American-launch-Gemini-8-Florida-March-1966.jpg) [![Neil Armstrong takes humankind's first steps on the lunar surface during NASA's Apollo 11 mission](https://cdn.britannica.com/83/23183-138-3E257FAE/famous-Neil-Armstrong-space-films-clips-arrival-July-20-1969.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/famous-Neil-Armstrong-space-films-clips-arrival-July-20-1969/-8519) [![Neil Armstrong](https://cdn.britannica.com/68/73168-004-B8DF47D5/Neil-Armstrong-simulation-training-Apollo-11-lunar.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/68/73168-004-B8DF47D5/Neil-Armstrong-simulation-training-Apollo-11-lunar.jpg) [![Moon landing](https://cdn.britannica.com/99/157599-004-A154081E/Neil-Armstrong-Moon-July-1969.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/99/157599-050-743F6CAC/Neil-Armstrong-Moon-July-1969.jpg) [![Apollo 11 crew](https://cdn.britannica.com/92/118692-004-09AA5B8E/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/92/118692-050-194A0468/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg) [![Timeline of the Apollo space missions](https://cdn.britannica.com/19/258719-049-2F885B9B/apollo-timeframe-infographic.jpg)](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11) [![Buzz Aldrin on the Moon](https://cdn.britannica.com/41/65041-004-C13941A2/Edwin-Aldrin-Apollo-11-Moon-background-Lunar.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/41/65041-050-A80E9B6A/Edwin-Aldrin-Apollo-11-Moon-background-Lunar.jpg) [![Apollo 11 spacesuit](https://cdn.britannica.com/51/218151-004-BE376EDD/Neil-Armstrong-spacesuit-Apollo-11-mission-1969-National-Air-and-Space-Museum.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/51/218151-050-0C61E1EA/Neil-Armstrong-spacesuit-Apollo-11-mission-1969-National-Air-and-Space-Museum.jpg) At a Glance [![Neil Armstrong, 1969.](https://cdn.britannica.com/28/91728-050-C16F54E8/Neil-Armstrong-1969.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/summary/Neil-Armstrong) [Neil Armstrong summary](https://www.britannica.com/summary/Neil-Armstrong) Quizzes [![View of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31, M31).](https://cdn.britannica.com/41/155241-131-FB2C633F/View-Andromeda-Galaxy.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/astronomy-and-space-quiz) [Astronomy and Space Quiz](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/astronomy-and-space-quiz) [![Soil cohesiveness demonstrated in bootprint of Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11. footprint; foot print; moon](https://cdn.britannica.com/29/76829-131-9658164B/lunar-soil-Cohesiveness-Edwin-Aldrin-boot-print-July-1969.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/space-exploration) [Space Exploration](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/space-exploration) [![Edwin E. Aldrin (Buzz Aldrin) stands on the moon, Apollo 11](https://cdn.britannica.com/14/188714-131-87D4E380/moon-Edwin-E-Aldrin-Apollo-11.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/famous-astronauts-and-cosmonauts) [Famous Astronauts and Cosmonauts](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/famous-astronauts-and-cosmonauts) Related Questions - [Did Neil Armstrong leave something on the Moon?](https://www.britannica.com/question/Did-Neil-Armstrong-leave-something-on-the-Moon) - [What happened on Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 mission?](https://www.britannica.com/question/What-happened-on-Neil-Armstrongs-Apollo-11-mission) - [What did Neil Armstrong do after Apollo 11?](https://www.britannica.com/question/What-did-Neil-Armstrong-do-after-Apollo-11) - [How many Apollo missions failed?](https://www.britannica.com/question/How-many-Apollo-missions-failed) - [How many Apollo astronauts are still alive?](https://www.britannica.com/question/How-many-Apollo-astronauts-are-still-alive) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-178/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5) Contents Ask Anything [Science](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Science) [Astronomy](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Astronomy) CITE Share Feedback External Websites [![Neil Armstrong](https://cdn.britannica.com/72/163272-050-1C5BC2B7/Neil-Armstrong-American.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https://cdn.britannica.com/72/163272-050-1C5BC2B7/Neil-Armstrong-American.jpg) [Neil Armstrong](https://cdn.britannica.com/72/163272-050-1C5BC2B7/Neil-Armstrong-American.jpg) American astronaut Neil Armstrong, 1969. (more) # Neil Armstrong American astronaut Homework Help Also known as: Neil Alden Armstrong Written and fact-checked by [Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) Britannica Editors Last updated Feb. 6, 2026 •[History](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong/additional-info#history) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-178/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5) Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything Top Questions ### Why is Neil Armstrong famous? Neil Armstrong is famous for being the first person to set foot on the [Moon](https://www.britannica.com/place/Moon). He was a part of the [Apollo 11](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11) spaceflight alongside [Buzz Aldrin](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Buzz-Aldrin) and [Michael Collins](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Collins-American-astronaut). Apollo 11’s success in 1969 opened a new era of [space exploration](https://www.britannica.com/science/space-exploration). ### Did Neil Armstrong leave something on the Moon? The astronauts did leave items on the Moon, including a plaque and a flag, but Neil Armstrong himself did not leave any personal items on the Moon. Neil Armstrong leaving a bracelet on the Moon to memorialize his deceased daughter Karen was dramatic license on the part of the filmmakers of First Man (2018). ### Are Neil Armstrong’s footprints still visible on the Moon? Because the [Moon](https://www.britannica.com/place/Moon) has no atmosphere or water to wear Neil Armstrong’s footprints away, his footprints are still visible. ### What happened on Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 mission? On July 20, 1969, some 600 million television viewers watched the [Apollo 11](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11) [Moon](https://www.britannica.com/place/Moon) landing. Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar soil and said, “That’s one small step for \[a\] man, one giant leap for mankind.” He and crewmate Buzz Aldrin departed after over 21 hours of scientific tests and sample collection on the Moon. ### What did Neil Armstrong do after Apollo 11? After their successful [Apollo 11](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11) mission in 1969, Neil Armstrong and his crewmates toured over 20 countries to celebrate a new era of [space exploration](https://www.britannica.com/science/space-exploration). Armstrong received the [Presidential Medal of Freedom](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Presidential-Medal-of-Freedom) that year. He resigned from [NASA](https://www.britannica.com/topic/NASA) in 1971 and immersed himself in various academic and professional pursuits for the rest of his life. ## News • [Newly discovered photos show astronaut Neil Armstrong after the Gemini 8 emergency](https://www.britannica.com/news/35599/4fb53a2c8b4735c6262313edd7a63348) • Mar. 21, 2026, 1:00 PM ET (AP) Show less Neil Armstrong (born August 5, 1930, Wapakoneta, [Ohio](https://www.britannica.com/place/Ohio-state), U.S.—died August 25, 2012, [Cincinnati](https://www.britannica.com/place/Cincinnati), Ohio) was a U.S. [astronaut](https://www.britannica.com/topic/astronaut), and the first person to set foot on the [Moon](https://www.britannica.com/place/Moon). ## Early life and career Neil Armstrong was the eldest of three children born to Viola Louise Engel and Stephen Koenig Armstrong, a state auditor. Neil’s passion for aviation and flight was kindled when he took his first airplane ride at age 6. He was active in the [Boy Scouts](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Boy-Scouts) of [America](https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States) and earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable. He became a licensed pilot on his 16th birthday and a naval air cadet in 1947. His studies in [aeronautical engineering](https://www.britannica.com/technology/aerospace-engineering) at [Purdue University](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Purdue-University) in [West Lafayette](https://www.britannica.com/place/West-Lafayette), [Indiana](https://www.britannica.com/place/Indiana-state), were interrupted in 1950 by his service in the [Korean War](https://www.britannica.com/event/Korean-War), during which he was shot down once and was awarded three Air Medals. He completed his degree in 1955 and immediately became a civilian research pilot for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), later the [National Aeronautics and Space Administration](https://www.britannica.com/topic/NASA) (NASA). He flew more than 1,100 hours, testing various supersonic fighters as well as the [X-15](https://www.britannica.com/technology/X-15-aircraft) rocket plane. [![Neil Armstrong](https://cdn.britannica.com/76/13376-050-533EDBC0/Neil-Armstrong-1969.jpg?w=300)1 of 2](https://cdn.britannica.com/76/13376-050-533EDBC0/Neil-Armstrong-1969.jpg) [Neil Armstrong](https://cdn.britannica.com/76/13376-050-533EDBC0/Neil-Armstrong-1969.jpg)Neil Armstrong, 1969. (more) [![Neil Armstrong](https://cdn.britannica.com/32/168932-050-DA330336/Neil-Armstrong-American-launch-Gemini-8-Florida-March-1966.jpg?w=300)2 of 2](https://cdn.britannica.com/32/168932-050-DA330336/Neil-Armstrong-American-launch-Gemini-8-Florida-March-1966.jpg) [Neil Armstrong](https://cdn.britannica.com/32/168932-050-DA330336/Neil-Armstrong-American-launch-Gemini-8-Florida-March-1966.jpg)American astronaut Neil Armstrong suiting up before the launch of Gemini 8 from Cape Kennedy (now Cape Canaveral), Florida, March 1966. (more) In 1962 Armstrong joined the space program with its second group of astronauts. On March 16, 1966, Armstrong, as command pilot of [Gemini 8](https://www.britannica.com/science/Gemini-spacecraft-and-space-program), and [David R. Scott](https://www.britannica.com/biography/David-Scott) [rendezvoused](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/rendezvoused) with an unmanned Agena rocket and completed the first manual space docking maneuver. After the docking, a rocket thruster malfunction sent the [spacecraft](https://www.britannica.com/technology/spacecraft) into an uncontrolled spin and forced them to separate from the Agena. Armstrong then regained control of the Gemini craft and made an emergency splashdown in the [Pacific Ocean](https://www.britannica.com/place/Pacific-Ocean). [![View of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31, M31).](https://cdn.britannica.com/41/155241-131-FB2C633F/View-Andromeda-Galaxy.jpg) Britannica Quiz Astronomy and Space Quiz](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/astronomy-and-space-quiz) ## [Moon landing](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11) [![Neil Armstrong takes humankind's first steps on the lunar surface during NASA's Apollo 11 mission](https://cdn.britannica.com/83/23183-138-3E257FAE/famous-Neil-Armstrong-space-films-clips-arrival-July-20-1969.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)1 of 3](https://www.britannica.com/video/famous-Neil-Armstrong-space-films-clips-arrival-July-20-1969/-8519) Neil Armstrong takes humankind's first steps on the lunar surface during NASA's Apollo 11 missionPerhaps the most famous of all space films, these clips document the arrival of the first human beings on the Moon on July 20, 1969. (more) [See all videos for this article](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong/images-videos) [![Neil Armstrong](https://cdn.britannica.com/68/73168-004-B8DF47D5/Neil-Armstrong-simulation-training-Apollo-11-lunar.jpg?w=300)2 of 3](https://cdn.britannica.com/68/73168-004-B8DF47D5/Neil-Armstrong-simulation-training-Apollo-11-lunar.jpg) [Neil Armstrong](https://cdn.britannica.com/68/73168-004-B8DF47D5/Neil-Armstrong-simulation-training-Apollo-11-lunar.jpg)U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11 commander, participating in simulation training in preparation for the lunar landing mission. (more) [![Moon landing](https://cdn.britannica.com/99/157599-050-743F6CAC/Neil-Armstrong-Moon-July-1969.jpg?w=300)3 of 3](https://cdn.britannica.com/99/157599-050-743F6CAC/Neil-Armstrong-Moon-July-1969.jpg) [Moon landing](https://cdn.britannica.com/99/157599-050-743F6CAC/Neil-Armstrong-Moon-July-1969.jpg)Neil Armstrong on the Moon, July 1969. (more) On July 16, 1969, Armstrong, along with [Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr.](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Buzz-Aldrin), and [Michael Collins](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Collins-American-astronaut), blasted off in the [Apollo 11](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11) vehicle toward the [Moon](https://www.britannica.com/science/Moon-exploration) (see [Apollo program](https://www.britannica.com/science/Apollo-space-program)). Four days later, at 4:17 pm U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), the Eagle lunar landing module, guided manually by Armstrong, touched down on a plain near the southwestern edge of the Sea of Tranquility ([Mare Tranquillitatis](https://www.britannica.com/science/Mare-Tranquillitatis)). At 10:56 pm EDT on July 20, 1969, Armstrong stepped from the Eagle onto the Moon’s dusty surface with the words, “That’s one small step for \[a\] man, one giant leap for mankind.” (In the excitement of the moment, Armstrong skipped the “a” in the statement that he had prepared.) Armstrong and Aldrin left the module for more than two hours and [deployed](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deployed) scientific instruments, collected surface samples, and took numerous photographs. [![Apollo 11 crew](https://cdn.britannica.com/92/118692-050-194A0468/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/92/118692-050-194A0468/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg) [Apollo 11 crew](https://cdn.britannica.com/92/118692-050-194A0468/Neil-Armstrong-Apollo-11-Michael-Collins-Edwin.jpg)The crew of Apollo 11 (from left): Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin. (more) On July 21, after 21 hours and 36 minutes on the Moon, they lifted off to rendezvous with Collins and begin the voyage back to [Earth](https://www.britannica.com/place/Earth). After splashdown in the Pacific at 12:51 pm EDT on July 24, the three astronauts spent 18 days in quarantine to guard against possible contamination by lunar microbes. During the days that followed, and during a tour of 21 nations, they were hailed for their part in the opening of a new era in human exploration of the [universe](https://www.britannica.com/science/universe). ## Timeline of the Apollo program Between 1968 and 1972, 24 Apollo astronauts visited the Moon, and 12 of them walked on its surface. Scroll through the timeline of the Apollo missions that led the United States to land the first humans on the Moon, and see how Armstrong fits into this storied history. ## Later career Armstrong resigned from NASA in 1971. After [Apollo 11](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11) he shied away from being a public figure and [confined](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/confined) himself to academic and professional endeavors. From 1971 to 1979 he was professor of aerospace engineering at the [University of Cincinnati](https://www.britannica.com/topic/University-of-Cincinnati) (Ohio). After 1979 Armstrong served as chairman or director for a number of companies, among them Computing Technologies for Aviation from 1982 to 1992 and AIL Systems (later EDO Corporation), a maker of electronic equipment for the military, from 1977 until his retirement in 2002. He also served on the National Commission on Space (NCOS), a panel charged with setting goals for the space program, and on the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, the group appointed in 1986 to analyze the safety failures in the [Challenger disaster](https://www.britannica.com/event/Challenger-disaster). He was awarded the [Presidential Medal of Freedom](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Presidential-Medal-of-Freedom) in 1969, the Congressional Space [Medal of Honor](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Medal-of-Honor-United-States-military-decoration) in 1978, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2009. Explore Britannica Premium\! The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners. [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=redesign-2026) ![Penguin, ship, mountain, atlas](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-left.webp) ![shohei ohtani, plants, andy wharhol art](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-right.webp) ![Mobile](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-mobile.webp?w=400) [The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419)This article was most recently revised and updated by [Erik Gregersen](https://www.britannica.com/editor/Erik-Gregersen/6723). ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-178/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5)Britannica AI chevron\_right Neil Armstrong close [AI-generated answers](https://www.britannica.com/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. Load Next Page Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style Britannica Editors. "Apollo 11". Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Apr. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11. Accessed 4 April 2026. Copy Citation Share Share to social media [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/) [X](https://x.com/britannica) URL <https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-11> External Websites - [Space.com - Apollo 11: First Men on the Moon](https://www.space.com/16758-apollo-11-first-moon-landing.html) - [BBC Newsround - Apollo 11 Moon landing: Everything you need to know](https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/48789792) - [Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum - Apollo 11](https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/apollo-11-moon-landing) - [Royal Museums Greenwich - Apollo 11 crew](https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/apollo-11-crew) - [NASA - Apollo 11](https://www.nasa.gov/mission/apollo-11/) - [The Planetary Society - Apollo 11](https://www.planetary.org/space-missions/apollo-11) Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. - [Apollo 11 - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)](https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Apollo-11/631767) Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. print Print Please select which sections you would like to print: verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style Britannica Editors. "Neil Armstrong". Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Feb. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong. Accessed 4 April 2026. Copy Citation Share Share to social media [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/) [X](https://x.com/britannica) URL <https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong> External Websites - [The MY HERO Project - Neil Armstrong](https://myhero.com/N_Armstrong_dnhs_ay_US_2016_ul) - [Astronaut Scholarship Foundation - Astronauts Neil Armstrong](https://www.astronautscholarship.org/astronauts-neil-armstrong/) - [New Mexico Museum of Space History - Neil A. Armstrong](https://nmspacemuseum.org/inductee/neil-a-armstrong/) - [Bill of Rights Institute - Neil Armstrong and the Moon Landing](https://billofrightsinstitute.org/essays/neil-armstrong-and-the-moon-landing) - [NASA - Neil A. Armstrong](https://www.nasa.gov/people/neil-a-armstrong/) - [Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum - Remembering Neil Armstrong](https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/remembering-neil-armstrong) - [Official Site of Neil Armstrong](https://www.neilarmstrong.com/) - [Space.com - Neil Armstrong: First Man on the Moon](https://www.space.com/15519-neil-armstrong-man-moon.html) - [National Aviation Hall of Fame - Biography of Neil Alden Armstrong](https://nationalaviation.org/enshrinee/neil-alden-armstrong/) Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. - [Neil Armstrong - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)](https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Neil-Armstrong/352784) - [Neil Armstrong - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)](https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Neil-Armstrong/272958)
Readable Markdown	Top Questions ### When was Apollo 11 launched? ### What was the mission objective of Apollo 11? ### Who were the crew members of Apollo 11? ### When did Apollo 11 land on the Moon? ### How fast did Apollo 11 travel? ## News • Apollo 11, U.S. [spaceflight](https://www.britannica.com/science/spaceflight) during which commander [Neil Armstrong](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong) and lunar module pilot [Edwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin, Jr.](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Buzz-Aldrin), on July 20, 1969, became the first people to land on the [Moon](https://www.britannica.com/place/Moon) and walk the lunar surface. Apollo 11 was the [culmination](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/culmination) of the [Apollo program](https://www.britannica.com/science/Apollo-space-program) and a massive national commitment by the [United States](https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States) to beat the [Soviet Union](https://www.britannica.com/place/Soviet-Union) in putting people on the Moon. All told, 24 Apollo astronauts visited the Moon and 12 of them [walked on its surface](https://www.britannica.com/story/how-many-people-have-been-to-the-moon). Additional [NASA](https://www.britannica.com/topic/NASA) astronauts are scheduled to return to the Moon by 2025 as part of the [Artemis](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Artemis-program) space program. From the time of its launch on July 16, 1969, until the return splashdown on July 24, almost every major aspect of the flight of Apollo 11 was witnessed via [television](https://www.britannica.com/technology/television-technology) by hundreds of millions of people in nearly every part of the globe. The pulse of humanity rose with the giant, 111-metre- (363-foot-) high, 3,038,500-kg (6,698,700-pound) [Saturn](https://www.britannica.com/technology/Saturn-launch-vehicle) V [launch vehicle](https://www.britannica.com/technology/launch-vehicle) as it made its flawless flight from Pad 39A at Cape Kennedy (now [Cape Canaveral](https://www.britannica.com/place/Cape-Canaveral)), [Florida](https://www.britannica.com/place/Florida), before hundreds of thousands of spectators. So accurate was the translunar insertion that three of the en route [trajectory](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/trajectory) corrections planned were not necessary. Aboard Apollo 11 were Armstrong, Aldrin, and command module pilot [Michael Collins](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Collins-American-astronaut). Their enthusiasm was evident from the beginning, as Armstrong exclaimed, “This Saturn gave us a magnificent ride.…It was beautiful!” The third stage of the Saturn then fired to start the crew on their 376,400-km (234,000-mile) journey to the Moon. The three [astronauts](https://www.britannica.com/topic/astronaut) conducted their transposition and docking maneuvers, first turning the command module, Columbia, and its attached service module around and then extracting the lunar module from its resting place above the Saturn’s third stage. On their arrival the astronauts slowed the [spacecraft](https://www.britannica.com/technology/spacecraft) so that it would go into lunar [orbit](https://www.britannica.com/science/orbit-astronomy). Apollo 11 entered first an [elliptical](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/elliptical) orbit 114 by 313 km (71 by 194 miles) and then a nearly circular orbit between 100 and 122 km (62 and 76 miles) above the surface of the Moon. [![Quiz thumbnail, "What Happened on this Very Important Date" quiz. A push pin on a calendar](https://cdn.britannica.com/88/259288-131-D51AA72F/quiz-thumbnail-what-happened-on-this-very-important-date.jpg) Britannica Quiz What Very Big Thing Happened on This Day?](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/what-very-big-thing-happened-on-this-day) [Apollo 11 lunar module, Eagle](https://cdn.britannica.com/18/418-050-613974C9/Eagle-Grumman-lunar-module-Apollo-11-footpads-July-20-1969.jpg)Grumman-built Apollo 11 lunar module, Eagle, with its four footpads deployed for touchdown. This photograph was taken from the Apollo 11 command module as the two spacecraft moved apart above the Moon on July 20, 1969. On the morning of July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin crawled from the command module through an interconnecting tunnel into the lunar module, [Eagle](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eagle-United-States-lunar-module). Toward the end of the 12th lunar orbit, the Apollo 11 spacecraft became two separate spacecraft: Columbia, piloted by Collins, and Eagle, occupied by Armstrong and Aldrin. By firing Eagle’s propulsion system, the two astronauts changed from their nearly circular orbit to an elliptical course whose closest approach to the Moon was only 15,000 metres (50,000 feet). At this low point they again fired their engine, this time to undergo the powered descent initiation maneuver. Five times during the descent, the guidance computer triggered an alarm (called “1202” or “1201”) that its memory was full, but NASA [simulations](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/simulations) before the mission showed that a landing could still happen despite the alarm, and thus Mission Control told the astronauts to continue the descent. At about 150 metres (500 feet) above the surface, Armstrong began maneuvering the craft manually (although the main engine continued under automatic control) to avoid landing in a rock-strewn crater. For about a minute and a half, Armstrong hovered Eagle, moving it laterally with the reaction control system until he found a clear area on which to descend. Then the contact light went on inside the cockpit, as the 172-cm (68-inch) probes dangling below Eagle’s footpads signaled contact with the ground. One second later the [descent](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/descent) rocket engine was cut off, as the astronauts gazed down onto a sheet of lunar soil blown radially in all directions. Armstrong then radioed at 4:17 pm U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” Eagle had touched down in the [Sea of Tranquility](https://www.britannica.com/science/Mare-Tranquillitatis), an area selected for its level and smooth terrain. At 10:56 pm EDT on July 20, Armstrong stepped out onto the lunar soil with the words, “That’s one small step for \[a\] man, one giant leap for mankind.” (In the excitement of the moment, Armstrong skipped the “a” in the statement that he had prepared.) He immediately described the surface as “fine and powdery” and said that there was no difficulty moving about. Aldrin joined his companion about 20 minutes later. Go beyond the basics with trusted, in-depth knowledge for professionals, students, and lifelong learners. [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=basics-2026) ![Penguin, ship, mountain, atlas](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-left.webp) ![shohei ohtani, plants, andy wharhol art](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-right.webp) ![Mobile](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-mobile.webp?w=400) [Buzz Aldrin on the Moon](https://cdn.britannica.com/22/65022-004-1A7CC8C4/Edwin-Aldrin-Jr-surface-Moon-Passive-Seismic.jpg)Edwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin, Jr., deploying the Passive Seismic Experiments Package (PSEP) on the Moon's surface. The lunar module Eagle from Apollo 11 is in the background. During their [moon](https://www.britannica.com/science/moon-natural-satellite) walk of more than two hours, Armstrong and Aldrin set up a device to measure the [composition](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/composition) of the [solar wind](https://www.britannica.com/science/solar-wind) reaching the Moon, a device to receive [laser](https://www.britannica.com/technology/laser) beams from [astronomical observatories](https://www.britannica.com/science/astronomical-observatory) on [Earth](https://www.britannica.com/place/Earth) to determine the exact distance of the two bodies from one another, and a passive [seismometer](https://www.britannica.com/science/seismograph) to measure moonquakes and [meteor](https://www.britannica.com/science/meteor) impacts long after the astronauts had returned home. They also took about 23 kg (50 pounds) of [rock](https://www.britannica.com/science/rock-geology) and soil samples, took many photographs, and maintained constant communication with mission control in [Houston](https://www.britannica.com/place/Houston), [Texas](https://www.britannica.com/place/Texas-state). After 21 hours 38 minutes on the Moon’s surface, the astronauts used Eagle’s ascent stage to launch it back into lunar orbit. After various maneuvers, Eagle once again docked with Collins in Columbia, and the trip back to Earth began soon afterward. Splashdown of Apollo 11 occurred in the [Pacific Ocean](https://www.britannica.com/place/Pacific-Ocean) about 1,400 km (900 miles) west of [Hawaii](https://www.britannica.com/place/Hawaii-state) on July 24. The astronauts were immediately placed in [quarantine](https://www.britannica.com/science/quarantine-preventive-medicine) in a van on the recovery ship. From there they were flown to the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, where they were transferred into the large, 58-room Lunar Receiving Laboratory. The quarantine lasted 21 days from the time Eagle took off from the Moon; during that period the astronauts were checked for any [diseases](https://www.britannica.com/science/disease) they might have picked up on the Moon, and the lunar samples were subjected to preliminary analysis. Quick Facts Date: July 16, 1969 - July 24, 1969 Columbia is part of the collections of the [National Air and Space Museum](https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Air-and-Space-Museum) in [Washington, D.C.](https://www.britannica.com/place/Washington-DC)
Shard	62 (laksa)
Root Hash	5455945239613777662
Unparsed URL	com,britannica!www,/topic/Apollo-11 s443