The Apollo 11 mission, launched from Cape Kennedy, Florida, represented a landmark achievement in human space exploration and the culmination of a decade of efforts by NASA to land humans on the Moon. The Saturn V rocket, the tallest, heaviest, and most powerful launch vehicle ever brought to operational status, took off on July 16, 1969. The crew consisted of three astronauts: Neil Armstrong, the mission commander, who would be the first person to walk on the Moon; Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, the lunar module pilot; and Michael Collins, the command module pilot. The launch was a crucial moment in the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union, igniting public excitement and engagement with the program. As the mission unfolded, Apollo 11 traveled approximately 240,000 miles to Lunar Orbit before Armstrong and Aldrin descended to the surface in the Lunar Module, named "Eagle." On July 20, 1969, Armstrong became the first human to step onto the Moon, stating the memorable phrase, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Aldrin joined him shortly after, and the two astronauts conducted experiments, collected lunar samples, and took photographs. Meanwhile, Collins orbited the Moon in the Command Module, awaiting their return. The success of Apollo 11 not only solidified the United States' position in the Space Race but also paved the way for future exploration of both the Moon and deep space. Following the Moon landing, the crew returned to Earth, ultimately splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969, and were recovered by the USS Hornet, completing a mission that has inspired generations and transformed humanity's view of space travel.