Celebrating the Apollo 11 Moon Landing’s 50th Anniversary

Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty

50 years ago, two astronauts took the very first steps on the moon, as the world watched. Through this gallery, view the incredible moments of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) named three astronauts as the prime crew of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission. Left to right, Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> NASA/Getty </div>

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) named three astronauts as the prime crew of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission. Left to right, Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot.

NASA/Getty

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida the S-1C booster for the Apollo 11 Saturn V was erected atop its mobile launcher.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Courtesy of NASA </div>

At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida the S-1C booster for the Apollo 11 Saturn V was erected atop its mobile launcher.

Courtesy of NASA

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>On July 16, 1969, the huge, 363-feet tall Saturn V rocket launched the Apollo 11 mission from Kennedy Space Center.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Courtesy of NASA </div>

On July 16, 1969, the huge, 363-feet tall Saturn V rocket launched the Apollo 11 mission from Kennedy Space Center.

Courtesy of NASA

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>Saturn V rocket for the Apollo 11 moon landing expedition. Aboard are astronauts Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Bettmann/Getty </div>

Saturn V rocket for the Apollo 11 moon landing expedition. Aboard are astronauts Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin.

Bettmann/Getty

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>Armstrong waved to well-wishers in the hallway of the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building as he, Collins and Aldrin Jr. prepared to be transported to Launch Complex 39A for the first manned lunar landing mission.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Courtesy of NASA </div>

Armstrong waved to well-wishers in the hallway of the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building as he, Collins and Aldrin Jr. prepared to be transported to Launch Complex 39A for the first manned lunar landing mission.

Courtesy of NASA

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>Personnel in the Launch Control Center watched the Apollo 11 liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at the start of the historic lunar landing mission.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Courtesy of NASA </div>

Personnel in the Launch Control Center watched the Apollo 11 liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at the start of the historic lunar landing mission.

Courtesy of NASA

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>The American flag heralded the launch of Apollo 11, the first Lunar landing mission. Four days later, on July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the Moon's surface.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Courtesy of NASA </div>

The American flag heralded the launch of Apollo 11, the first Lunar landing mission. Four days later, on July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the Moon’s surface.

Courtesy of NASA

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>Collins practiced in the CM simulator at the Kennedy Space Center.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Courtesy of NASA </div>

Collins practiced in the CM simulator at the Kennedy Space Center.

Courtesy of NASA

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>Armstrong's flight training in the lunar module simulator.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Bettmann/Getty </div>

Armstrong’s flight training in the lunar module simulator.

Bettmann/Getty

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>Apollo 11 backup crew members Fred Haise (left) and Jim Lovell before entering the Lunar Module for an altitude test.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Courtesy of NASA </div>

Apollo 11 backup crew members Fred Haise (left) and Jim Lovell before entering the Lunar Module for an altitude test.

Courtesy of NASA

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>This outstanding view of the full moon was photographed from the Apollo 11 spacecraft during its trans-Earth journey homeward. When this picture was taken, the spacecraft was already 10,000 nautical miles away. </p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Courtesy of NASA </div>

This outstanding view of the full moon was photographed from the Apollo 11 spacecraft during its trans-Earth journey homeward. When this picture was taken, the spacecraft was already 10,000 nautical miles away.

Courtesy of NASA

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>Aldrin Jr. egressed the Lunar Module "Eagle" and descended the steps before walking on the moon.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Courtesy of NASA </div>

Aldrin Jr. egressed the Lunar Module “Eagle” and descended the steps before walking on the moon.

Courtesy of NASA

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>Aldrin set up scientific experiments on the surface of the moon.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Time &amp; Life Pictures/Getty </div>

Aldrin set up scientific experiments on the surface of the moon.

Time & Life Pictures/Getty

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>Aldrin walked on the surface of the moon. Armstrong took this photograph with a 70mm lunar surface camera. While Armstrong and Aldrin explored the Sea of Tranquility region of the moon, Collins remained with the command and service modules in lunar orbit.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Courtesy of NASA </div>

Aldrin walked on the surface of the moon. Armstrong took this photograph with a 70mm lunar surface camera. While Armstrong and Aldrin explored the Sea of Tranquility region of the moon, Collins remained with the command and service modules in lunar orbit.

Courtesy of NASA

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>An Apollo 11 astronaut's footprint in the lunar soil, photographed by a 70 mm lunar surface camera. Armstrong stepped into history on July 20, 1969, by leaving the first human footprint on the surface of the moon. </p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> NASA/Getty </div>

An Apollo 11 astronaut’s footprint in the lunar soil, photographed by a 70 mm lunar surface camera. Armstrong stepped into history on July 20, 1969, by leaving the first human footprint on the surface of the moon.

NASA/Getty

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," were Armstrong's famous words as he reached the surface. </p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Science &amp; Society Picture Library/Getty </div>

“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” were Armstrong’s famous words as he reached the surface.

Science & Society Picture Library/Getty

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>Aldrin Jr. posed for a photograph beside the deployed United States flag during an Apollo 11 extravehicular activity on the lunar surface. </p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Courtesy of NASA </div>

Aldrin Jr. posed for a photograph beside the deployed United States flag during an Apollo 11 extravehicular activity on the lunar surface.

Courtesy of NASA

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>Aldrin and Armstrong setup scientific experiments, including the Passive Seismic Experiment Package in the foreground. </p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Courtesy of NASA </div>

Aldrin and Armstrong setup scientific experiments, including the Passive Seismic Experiment Package in the foreground.

Courtesy of NASA

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>From left, Collins, Armstrong, and Aldrin, Jr. paused for a lunar module mockup.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Courtesy of NASA </div>

From left, Collins, Armstrong, and Aldrin, Jr. paused for a lunar module mockup.

Courtesy of NASA

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>TV news anchor Walter Cronkite (left) holds up a copy of the New York Daily News with a headline that read 'Man Lands on the Moon' during his coverage of NASA's Apollo 11 mission on July 20, 1969. Former astronaut Wally Schirra sat beside him.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> CBS Photo Archive/Getty </div>

TV news anchor Walter Cronkite (left) holds up a copy of the New York Daily News with a headline that read ‘Man Lands on the Moon’ during his coverage of NASA’s Apollo 11 mission on July 20, 1969. Former astronaut Wally Schirra sat beside him.

CBS Photo Archive/Getty

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>The astronauts were subjected to a period of quarantine upon their return to earth. Through the window of their Mobile Quarantine Facility, they hold a conversation with President Richard Nixon.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> MPI/Getty </div>

The astronauts were subjected to a period of quarantine upon their return to earth. Through the window of their Mobile Quarantine Facility, they hold a conversation with President Richard Nixon.

MPI/Getty

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>The astronauts beside a boiler plate Apollo capsule on the deck of the NASA vessel Retriever during water egress training in the Gulf of Mexico. </p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Science &amp; Society Picture Library/Getty </div>

The astronauts beside a boiler plate Apollo capsule on the deck of the NASA vessel Retriever during water egress training in the Gulf of Mexico.

Science & Society Picture Library/Getty

<div class="inline-image__caption"> <p>Apollo 10, carrying astronauts Thomas Stafford, Eugene Cernan and John Young was launched on May 18,1969, on a lunar orbital mission as a dress rehearsal for the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission.</p> </div> <div class="inline-image__credit"> Science &amp; Society Picture Library/Getty </div>

Apollo 10, carrying astronauts Thomas Stafford, Eugene Cernan and John Young was launched on May 18,1969, on a lunar orbital mission as a dress rehearsal for the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission.

Science & Society Picture Library/Getty

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