Today In History: A Giant Leap

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon.

Armstrong, Aldrin, and astronaut Michael Collins launched on July 16 from Kennedy Space Center. Four days later, they were in lunar orbit, and Armstrong and Aldrin descended to the surface in the lunar module.

The lunar module, named Eagle, landed on the moon at 4:17 p.m. EDT. Several hours later, Armstrong was the first to climb down the ladder, then followed by Aldrin.

"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind," Armstrong said.

"Beautiful!" Aldrin exclaimed, then added, "Magnificent desolation."

A television camera they mounted on a post provided a live broadcast to more than 500 million viewers around the world.

The two astronauts planted a small American flag, and a plaque bearing the words, "Here men from the planet Earth first set foot on the moon, July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind."