Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon

On July 20, 1969, 50 years ago, Apollo 11 shuttle took the first person on Earth to land on the Moon. "A small footstep of humanity, a leap of humanity", is Neil Armstrong's famous saying when he takes the first steps on the Moon.

Launched by the Saturn V rocket from the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida on July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 is Apollo's fifth manned flight and historic mission. Take people for the first time to set foot on the Moon.

Three Apollo astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Edwin Eugene Aldrin, Jr., were on the Apollo 11. (also known as 'Buzz' Aldrin) and Michael Collins. Armstrong and Aldrin set foot on the Moon, while Collins alone drove the Control module "to wait" on the Moon's orbit until the two colleagues returned, before returning to Earth.

The Apollo spacecraft has three components: the Command Module with the cabin for three astronauts and the landing compartment back to Earth; Service Module (Service Module) with support for Control Module; and Lunar Module (Lunar Module) is responsible for landing on the Moon.

After being launched into space by the upper floor of the Saturn V rocket, the astronauts separate the ship from the missile and travel for three days until entering the Moon's orbit. Armstrong and Aldrin then moved into the Moon Module and landed in the Sea of ​​Tranquility.

They stayed there for 21.5 hours, conducting missions for seismic experiments, collecting soil and rock samples. After flying up with the upper part of the Moon Module and returning to the Control Module with Collins, all three astronauts returned to Earth and landed on the Pacific Ocean on July 24.

Below are photos of the historic moments of Apollo 11 mission:

Picture 1 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
Dr. Wernher von Braun stopped in front of the Saturn V rocket, then ready for the historic mission of Apollo 11, at Cape Canavarel on July 10, 1969.The missile was developed by the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville under the leadership of Dr. Braun.(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 2 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
The 110-meter Saturn V rocket, carrying the Apollo 11, was launched from the platform on July 16, 1969.(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 3 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
Apollo 11 crew includes: Commander Neil Armstrong (left), modular pilot Control Michael Collins (center) and Moon module pilot Edwin Aldrin Jr.(right).(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 4 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
The Executive Center staff monitored the Saturn V rocket leaving the launch pad on July 16, 1969.(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 5 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
The American flag flew as the Saturn V rocket flew into the air.(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 6 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
Moon module on the moon and the Earth image on the horizon on July 20, 1969.(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 7 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin inside the Moon module is called the "Eagle".(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 8 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
The Earth appears magnificently on the horizon, seen from the "Eagle" module just before this module lands on the Moon.(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 9 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
Control engineers at the Space Center in Houston when the "Eagle" module is landing on the Moon's surface.(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 10 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
The "Eagle" module is flying over the Moon's orbit, taken by the Pilot's pilot, Michael Collins on July 20, 1969.(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 11 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
Buzz Aldrin's shoes and footprints were printed on Moon land on July 20, 1969.(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 12 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
Buzz Aldrin stood by the American flag that was plugged into the Moon.(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 13 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
308 crater on the Moon, captured by Apollo 11 from orbit.(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 14 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
Hide shoes of Buzz Aldrin on the Moon.(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 15 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
Aldrin deployed seismic experiment tools.(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 16 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
Buzz Aldrin stood by the Moon seismic device.(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 17 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
Astronaut Neil Armstrong works near the Lunar moon module of Apollo 11. (Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 18 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
Members of the Apollo 11 mission waited to be picked up by the USS Hornet on July 24, 1969 when they returned to Earth.(Photo: NASA / EPA).

Picture 19 of Historical moments when people first set foot on the Moon
US President Richard Nixon (right) returns Apollo astronauts: from left to right: Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin on the USS Hornet.(Photo: NASA / EPA).

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