The United States first 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 the moon in the command module. Armstrong's famous words, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind," marked this historic moment, symbolizing the capabilities of human innovation and exploration. The successful moon landing fulfilled President John F. Kennedy's goal of landing a man on the moon before the decade's end and firmly established the U.S. as a leader in space exploration.