The first man on the moon was Neil Armstrong, who stepped onto the lunar surface on July 20, 1969, during the Apollo 11 mission. This historic event took place after a successful launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida and a journey of about 384,400 kilometers (238,855 miles) to the Moon. Armstrong famously declared, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," as he descended from the lunar module, Eagle. This monumental achievement marked a significant milestone in space exploration and the space race, showcasing human ingenuity and determination.