Who was the first person on the Moon?
Quick answer
Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the Moon, on July 20, 1969, during NASA’s Apollo 11 mission. Buzz Aldrin joined him about 19 minutes later, while Michael Collins orbited above in the command module. In total, 12 people walked on the Moon between 1969 and 1972.
Key facts
- First step
- July 20, 1969 (02:56 UTC, July 21)
- Mission
- Apollo 11
- Crew
- Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins
- Landing site
- Sea of Tranquility
Armstrong’s first words on the surface, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” were heard live by an estimated 600 million people. He later said he meant to say “a man.”
The Apollo 11 timeline
- July 16, 1969Launch from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on a Saturn V rocket
- July 20, 1969The lunar module Eagle lands: “The Eagle has landed.”
- July 20–21, 1969Armstrong and Aldrin spend about 2.5 hours walking on the surface
- July 24, 1969The crew splashes down safely in the Pacific Ocean
All 12 Moonwalkers
| Mission | Year | Astronauts on the surface |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo 11 | 1969 | Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin |
| Apollo 12 | 1969 | Pete Conrad, Alan Bean |
| Apollo 14 | 1971 | Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell |
| Apollo 15 | 1971 | David Scott, James Irwin |
| Apollo 16 | 1972 | John Young, Charles Duke |
| Apollo 17 | 1972 | Eugene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt |
Apollo 13 (1970) was meant to land but turned back after an oxygen tank exploded; its crew returned safely. Eugene Cernan was the last person to walk on the Moon, in December 1972.
Who was Neil Armstrong?
Armstrong (1930–2012) was a former US Navy pilot and test pilot from Ohio. He was famously modest and avoided fame for the rest of his life, working as a university engineering professor.
Going back
No one has walked on the Moon since 1972. NASA’s Artemis program aims to land astronauts again, including the first woman and first person of color on the Moon.
The Moon is a short trip compared with Mars: see how long it takes to travel to Mars.
Still curious?
Jump to a random question from the archive.