DEEP SPACE STORY

DEEP SPACE

On July 20, 1969, a human walked on the Moon for the first time.

Relive the full journey to and from the the Moon with the timeline below.

July 16, 1969 13:32:00 UTC (Universal Coordinated Time) 9:32 am ET (Eastern Time)

Liftoff! The Apollo 11 Spacecraft launched from Cape Kennedy.Over a million spectators, including Vice President Spiro Agnew and former President Lyndon Johnson, have come to watch the lift off.

The Space Journey

75 hours and 49 minutes

July 20, 1969 17:44 UTC 1:44 pm ET

The lunar module with Armstrong and Aldrin aboard was undocked from the command module. At 101:36 GET, the descent to the surface of the moon began.

Michael Collins stayed aboard the Command Module Columbia, serving as a communications link and photographing the lunar surface.

July 20, 1969 20:17 UTC 4:17 pm ET

The Eagle Has Landed! The lunar module touched down on the surface on the moon. 2:51 UTC 10:51 pm ET, Neil Armstrong begins his descent from the lunar module and takes humankind’s first steps on the moon, followed by Buzz Aldrin.

July 20, 1969 2:56 UTC 10:56 pm ET

"That's one small step for man,
one giant leap for mankind."

Neil Armstrong

"Thank you, Mr. President. It's a great honor and privilege for us to be here, representing not only the United States, but men of peace of all nations, and with interest and a curiosity, and men with a vision for the future. It's an honor for us to be able to participate here today."

July 21, 1969 17:54 UTC 1:54 pm ET

The ascent from the lunar surface began. At 21:35 UTC (5:35 pm ET) lunar module would rendezvous with the command and service modules, where Michael Collins would welcome back Aldrin and Armstrong. At 23:41 UTC (9:41 pm ET) Lunar Module Eagle was jettisoned into lunar orbit.

July 22, 19694:55 UTC11:55 pm ET

Apollo 11 left lunar orbit to return to Earth.

July 24, 1969 4:51 UTC 12:51 pm ET Splashdown!

The astronauts returned to Earth. In case the Moon had any traces of biological pathogens, the astronauts had to stay in quarantine for 21 days.

After 21 Days in Quarantine

The United States celebrated the returning heroes in the time-honored tradition reserved for such occasions: parades. The astronauts were lauded at parades across the nation, from New York, to Chicago, to their hometowns, and eventually partook in a world tour.

EXPLORE THE MOON LANDING COLLECTION