Apollo 11 was a U.S. spaceflight mission that aimed to perform the first human landing on the Moon. The mission was launched on July 16, 1969, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin. After entering lunar orbit on July 19, Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the Moon in the Lunar Module Eagle on July 20, while Collins remained in the Command Module Columbia, orbiting the Moon. Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon, famously saying, "Thats one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". The crew spent approximately two and a half hours on the Moon, collecting samples of moon rocks and dust. After rejoining Collins in the Command Module, the crew began their journey back to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969.