The first astronaut to walk on the Moon was Neil Armstrong, who stepped onto the lunar surface on July 20, 1969.

Event Details

Neil Armstrong exited the Apollo 11 lunar module, Eagle, and set foot on the Moon at 10:56 p.m. Eastern Time. As he walked on the Moon, Armstrong famously declared, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind".

Crew and Mission

• Neil Armstrong was accompanied by Buzz Aldrin, who followed him onto the Moon about 20 minutes later.
• Michael Collins, the third crew member, remained in orbit around the Moon aboard the command module.

• The Apollo 11 mission launched from Kennedy Space Center on July 16, 1969, and reached the Moon four days later.

Historic Significance

Armstrong's lunar walk was watched live by millions of people around the world and marked the first time humans set foot on another celestial body.