The Apollo 11 mission was the first manned mission to land on the Moon and the first extra-vehicular activity (EVA) or “moonwalk” was performed by astronaut Neil Armstrong on July 20, 1969.
After landing on the lunar surface, Armstrong opened the hatch of the Lunar Module and descended the ladder to the surface. He then famously said “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” as he took the first steps on the lunar surface. Buzz Aldrin followed him shortly afterwards.
During the EVA, which lasted for about 2 and a half hours, the astronauts collected samples of the lunar surface, conducted experiments, and planted the American flag on the Moon. They also deployed a seismometer and a laser-ranging retroreflector to study the Moon’s geology and measure its distance from Earth.
The EVA also marked the first time humans had ever set foot on another celestial body. The achievement was a major victory for the United States during the Cold War and was watched by an estimated 600 million people around the world. It was a historic achievement and marked a significant step forward in space exploration.
Based on LROC Temporal Traverse data
