Today in History: Neil Armstrong First Walked on the Moon on This Day in 1969 (31 Pictures)

By | July 20, 2015

On this day in history 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human ever to walk on the surface of the moon. 240,000 miles from Earth, Neil speaks these famous words: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

 
1. Neil Armstrong, commander of the Apollo 11 mission to moon, in training for his work on the lunar surface, 1969.

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Ralph Morse—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
2. Neil Armstrong on the cover of LIFE magazine, July 25, 1969.

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LIFE magazine

 
3. Apollo 11 lifts off on its historic flight to the moon, July 16, 1969.

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Ralph Morse—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
4. Jan Armstrong, wife of astronaut Neil Armstrong, and sons gaze up as Apollo 11 heads for space, Florida, 1969.

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Vernon Meritt III—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
5. Neil Armstrong and his family, spring 1969.

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Ralph Morse—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
6. Neil Armstrong plays with his 10-year old son Mark, spring 1969.

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Ralph Morse—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
7. Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin chat over drinks in Houston before their historic flight.

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Ralph Morse—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 

 
8. NASA's newest astronauts, 1963: Bottom row (from left): James Lovell Jr., James McDivitt, and Charles Conrad Jr.; second row: Elliot See Jr. and Major Thomas Stafford; third row: Captain Edward White II and Lt. Commander John Young; top row: Neil Armstrong and Major Frank Borman.

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Ralph Morse—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
9. Neil Armstrong beside a prototype lunar lander module, Edwards Air Force Base, 1964.

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Ralph Morse—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
10. Gemini 8 astronauts David Scott (left) and Neil Armstrong, 1966. Their March 1966 Gemini mission was NASA's sixth manned space flight.

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Ralph Morse—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
11. Gemini 8 astronauts Neil Armstrong and David Scott, floating in the Pacific after splashdown, 1966.

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NASA/LIFE

 
12. Neil Armstrong training for the Apollo 11 moon mission, Ellington Air Force Base, Texas, 1968.

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Lynn Pelham—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
13. Neil Armstrong training for the Apollo 11 mission, Ellington Air Force Base, Texas, 1968.

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Lynn Pelham—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
14. Neil Armstrong ejecting safely as a "flying bedstead" (a prototype lunar lander) crashes and burns, 1968.

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via time.com

 
15. Apollo astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin operate a simulator prior to their lunar mission, 1967.

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Ralph Morse—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
16. Apollo 11 Lunar Module pilot Buzz Aldrin; Command Module pilot Michael Collins; Mission Commander Neil Armstrong, March 1969.

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Ralph Morse—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

17. An eager Aldrin joins Armstrong on the moon 19 minutes later, photographed by Neil Armstrong. On his back rides a portable life-support system with oxygen for breathing, water for cooling, an electric-power supply, and raid equipment.

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Neil A. Armstrong, NASA

 
18. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin stands on the lunar surface, photographed by Neil Armstrong, July 1969.

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NASA/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
19. Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin plant the American flag on the moon, July 1969.

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NASA

 
20. Buzz Aldrin on the moon, photographed by Neil Armstrong, July 1969.

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NASA/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
21. Jan Armstrong follows the Apollo 11 mission on television with friends and neighbors, 1969.

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John Olson—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
22. Television shot of astronaut Neil Armstrong making historic moonwalk during Apollo 11 lunar mission.

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CBS News/Time & Life Pictures

 
23. A tired but quietly jubilant Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong in space capsule after his historic walk on moon, July 1969.

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NASA

 
24. Footprint left on the moon by Apollo 11 astronaut, 1969.

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NASA/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
25. A view of Earth from space during the Apollo 11 mission, July 1969.

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NASA/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
26. A photo of the American flag on the moon, taken during lift-off from the lunar surface, July 1969.

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NASA

 
27. President Richard Nixon speaks with Apollo 11 astronauts Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin (still in their quarantine room) aboard the recovery ship Hornet following the crew's return to Earth, July 24, 1969.

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via time.com

 
28. Apollo 11 astronauts Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin peer out the window of their quarantine room aboard the recovery ship Hornet following their return to Earth after historic mission to the moon, July 24, 1969.

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NASA/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
29. Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong chat inside the quarantine room in Houston, July 30, 1969.

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AFP/Getty Images

 
30. Collins, Armstrong and Aldrin inside a glass-enclosed cage to preserve their post-mission quarantine, July 1969.

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Arthur Schatz—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

 
31. Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins wave to crowds during a parade celebrating their return from the moon, August 1969.

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NASA/LIFE