Man Lands On The Moon

The United States' Apollo 11 was the first manned mission to land on the Moon, 50 years ago today on July, 20 1969. Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin formed the American crew. Armstrong became the first person to step onto the lunar surface and Aldrin joined him 19 minutes later. They spent about two and a quarter hours together outside the spacecraft, and they collected lunar material to bring back to Earth. Command module pilot Michael Collins flew the command module Columbia alone in lunar orbit while they were on the Moon's surface.

Armstrong's first step onto the lunar surface was broadcast on live TV to a worldwide audience. His historic words described the event as "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Apollo 11 moon landing effectively ended the Space Race and fulfilled a national goal originally proposed by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 saying: "Before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth."

Here is a clip from CBS News featuring the historic moon landing in real time:

The astronauts actually planting the flag on the moon in real time:

After Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted the U.S. flag on the moon, they received a congratulatory phone call from President Richard Nixon. Here is the CBS News coverage in real time:

Finally, here is a short clip that includes the highlights of the Apollo 11 landing and the actual return to earth:

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