Humans first landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, during NASA's Apollo 11 mission. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin became the first and second humans to set foot on the lunar surface, while Michael Collins remained in orbit aboard the command module. Armstrong's famous words, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind," marked a monumental achievement in space exploration and the culmination of the space race. This historic event demonstrated American technological prowess and ambition, inspiring generations to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).