On July 20, 1969, the United States of America achieved a feat that changed the course of history forever. They sent a manned mission to the moon. Apollo 11 was the mission that took mankind’s first steps on the moon.
The mission was comprised of three astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins. The mission was a huge success, and is considered one of the most iconic moments of the 20th century.
The mission began on July 16, 1969, when the Saturn V rocket launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Apollo 11 spacecraft was composed of a three-stage rocket and a command and service module. The rocket’s first stage was composed of five F-1 engines and was responsible for propelling the spacecraft out of the Earth’s atmosphere.
The second stage was composed of five J-2 engines, and was responsible for boosting the spacecraft out of Earth’s orbit. The third stage, composed of one J-2 engine, was responsible for propelling the spacecraft towards the moon. Once the spacecraft had left Earth’s orbit, Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins settled into their respective positions within the spacecraft.
Armstrong and Aldrin were responsible for piloting the Lunar Module, while Collins was responsible for piloting the Command Module. After four days of travel, the Lunar Module successfully entered lunar orbit. On July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin transferred into the Lunar Module, leaving Collins in the Command Module.
After a few hours of preparation, Armstrong and Aldrin detached the Lunar Module from the Command Module and began their descent to the moon’s surface. At 3:17 p.m. EDT, the Lunar Module touched down on the moon’s surface. Armstrong and Aldrin then exited the Lunar Module and became the first humans to set foot on the moon.
As Armstrong stepped onto the moon, he famously declared “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” The two astronauts then planted an American flag and gathered lunar samples. After spending two and a half hours on the moon’s surface, Armstrong and Aldrin returned to the Lunar Module and rejoined Collins in the Command Module.
The astronauts returned safely to Earth on July 24, 1969. Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins were welcomed back with a hero’s welcome and hailed as heroes.
