The major world event that took place on July 20, 1969, involving human space exploration was the moon landing of Apollo 11. NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the lunar surface, while Michael Collins remained in orbit. Armstrong's famous words, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind," marked this historic moment in space exploration. The successful mission fulfilled President John F. Kennedy's goal of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely, cementing the United States' leadership in space.