Celebrating mankind’s giant leap

Armstrong was the first to step onto the lunar surface, six hours after landing and spent two and a half hours outside the spacecraft. Aldrin spent slightly less time but together they collected 47.5 pounds of lunar material to bring back to Earth. Michael Collins was the pilot of the spacecraft and remained alone in orbit until Armstrong and Aldrin returned.

Watched by millions, the event was broadcast on live TV to a worldwide audience and all witnessed as Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface and described the event as “one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.” On July 22, Apollo 11 began its journey home, safely splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24.

There have been six manned US landings (between 1969 and 1972) and numerous unmanned landings, with no soft landings happening from 22 August 1976 until 14 December 2013. To date, the US is the only country to have successfully conducted manned missions to the moon, with the last departing the lunar surface in December, 1972.

India conducted its first lunar probe (unmanned) in the year 2008, Chandrayaan 1. It operated for 312 days as opposed to the intended two years but the mission achieved 95% of its planned objectives.