45th anniversary of Apollo 11 Moon Landing : Astronauts greeted by wives

Thursday, July 10, 2025

45th anniversary of Apollo 11 Moon Landing

As NASA marks the 45th anniversary of the first moon landing this month (July, 2014), the US space agency is also commemorating Neil Armstrong`s “one giant leap for mankind” through a number of events across, and above, the United States during the month, as well as on the agency`s website and NASA Television. Forty five years ago, the world watched as NASA`s astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed their Eagle lander at Tranquility Base on the moon on July 20, 1969, as crewmate Michael Collins remained in orbit aboard the command module.

Here are some of the amazing moments and facts to recall about the historic Apollo 11 spaceflight that landed the first humans on the lunar surface:

The Apollo 11 Crew

From left to right- Neil A Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and Edwin E Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot.

Apollo 11 Crew walking to Launch Pad

Mission commander Neil Armstrong waving in front, command module pilot Michael Collins, and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin heads for the van that will take them to the rocket for launch to the moon at Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida on July 16, 1969.

The Apollo 11 launch

A Saturn V rocket launched Apollo 11 from Launch Pad 39A, Kennedy Space Center on July 16, 1969 at 13:32:00 UTC (9:32:00 a.m. EDT local time), signalling the start of man`s first lunar landing mission. On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon while crewmate Michael Collins orbited above.

Man`s first step on the Moon

Commander of NASA`s Apollo 11 mission Neil Armstrong descends the ladder of the Apollo Lunar Module (or Lunar Excursion Module, LEM) to become the first human to step foot on the surface of the Moon. Armstrong became the first to step onto the lunar surface six hours later on July 21 at 02:56 UTC.

Neil Armstrong on the Moon

In this cropped picture, Armstrong is seen working at the LM (one of the few photos taken of him during the moonwalk).

Buzz Aldrin with experiment

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin stands on the surface of the moon near the Lunar Module (LM) “Eagle” during the Apollo 11 moonwalk. Neil Armstrong snapped this photograph with a 70mm lunar surface camera.

First Footprint

Apollo 11 astronaut Edwin Aldrin photographed his footprint on July 20, 1969, in the lunar soil, as part of an experiment to study the nature of lunar dust and the effects of pressure on the surface.

View of Earth from the Moon

Earthrise viewed from the lunar orbit prior to landing of the Apollo 11 mission.

President Nixon welcomes the Apollo 11 crew

President Richard M Nixon was in the central Pacific recovery area to personally welcome the Apollo 11 astronauts aboard the USS Hornet, back to earth. Already confined to the Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) are (left to right) Neil A Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. Apollo 11 splashed down at 11:49 a.m. (CDT), July 24, 1969, about 812 nautical miles southwest of Hawaii and only 12 nautical miles from the USS Hornet.

Astronauts greeted by wives

The Apollo 11 astronauts, still in their quarantine van, are greeted by their wives upon arrival at Ellington Air Force Base on July 27, 1969.

Photo credit: NASA

Compiled by: Salome Phelamei

45th anniversary of Apollo 11 Moon Landing

45th anniversary of Apollo 11 Moon Landing

The Apollo 11 Crew

Apollo 11 Crew walking to Launch Pad

The Apollo 11 launch

Man`s first step on the Moon

Neil Armstrong on the Moon

Buzz Aldrin with experiment

First Footprint

View of Earth from the Moon

President Nixon welcomes the Apollo 11 crew

Astronauts greeted by wives

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