Apollo 11: launch center - Apollo 11 launch room - Mission apollo 11: the launch...

Apollo 11: launch center - Apollo 11 launch room - Mission apollo 11: the launch room of the Kennedy space center before decolling. From the Kennedy Space Flight Center (KSC) control room, Apollo Program Director Lieutenant General Samuel C. Phillips monitors pre-launch activities for Apollo 11. The Apollo 11 mission, the first lunar landing mission, launched from the KSC in Florida via the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) developed Saturn V launch vehicle on July 16, 1969 and safely returned to Earth on July 24, 1969. Aboard the space craft were astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, Command Module (CM) pilot; and Edwin E. (Buzz) Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module (LM) pilot. The CM, Columbia””, piloted by Collins, remained in a parking orbit around the Moon while the LM, “” Eagle”, carrying astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin, landed on the Moon. On July 20, 1969, Armstrong was the first human to ever stand on the lunar surface, followed by Aldrin. During 2 hours of surface exploration, the crew collected 47 pounds of lunar surface material for analysis back on Earth.