The day the Moon became a place humans could walk.
On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 marked humanity’s first steps on the lunar surface marking a turning point in science, engineering, and global cooperation. As we celebrate this historic moment, we also look ahead to the Artemis missions that will return astronauts to the Moon and prepare us for future journeys deeper into our solar system.
ALT Buzz Aldrin took this iconic image of a bootprint on the Moon during the Apollo 11 moonwalk on July 20, 1969. Credit: NASA
ALT Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot, is photographed during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity (EVA) on the lunar surface. In the right background is the lunar module. On Aldrin's right is the Solar Wind Composition (SWC) experiment, already deployed. This photograph was taken by astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, with a 70mm lunar surface camera.
Credit: NASA