The first man landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, during NASA's Apollo 11 mission. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the lunar surface, while Michael Collins orbited above in the Command Module. Armstrong famously proclaimed, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," as he descended the ladder of the Lunar Module, Eagle. They spent about two and a half hours exploring the surface, conducting experiments, and collecting lunar samples before returning safely to Earth. This monumental achievement marked a significant milestone in space exploration and the Space Race.