ONE SMALL STEP... THE FLIGHT OF APOLLO 11

In July 1969, just eight years after President Kennedy's call to reach the moon, Apollo 11 stood ready to begin the first human exploration of another world. The Mercury, Gemini and early Apollo flights provided crucial experience in space but Apollo 11 and its astronauts-Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins-faced new and risky challenges in exploring the Moon and returning home to Earth.

On July 16 a Saturn V rocket, carrying the astronauts, the Command Module Columbia, a Service Module, and the Lunar Module Eagle, lifted off. On July 19, Apollo 11 reached lunar orbit and on the 20th Armstrong and Aldrin descended to the surface in the Lunar Module, with Collins remaining in the orbiting spacecraft. Later that day Armstrong emerged from Eagle, descended its ladder, and touched the Moon, offering his famous commemoration of the moment: "one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind."

About 27 hours after the start of their epic venture, Armstrong and Aldrin guided the ascent stage of their module to a rendezvous with Collins and the orbiting spacecraft. On July 22 Apollo 11 left lunar orbit for the journey back to Earth. Columbia and the three astronauts splashed down southwest of Hawaii at 12:51 pm EDT on the 24th, fulfilling Kennedy's challenge and returning to a tumultuous welcome from people all over the world.

Steps on the Flightpath