Apollo 11 was the
spaceflight that
landed the first two humans, commander
Neil Armstrong and
LM pilot
Buzz Aldrin, on the
Moon. On July 21, 1969, Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon. This mission quickly captured the public's imagination and became
prominent in popular culture. Over 530 million viewers worldwide watched the Moon landing, and it received widespread newspaper coverage. For example, the July 21, 1969, edition of
The Washington Post—shown here—used the main headline "'The Eagle Has Landed'—Two Men Walk on the Moon". In subsequent years, the Moon landing has been frequently depicted or referenced in media, including in literature, films, and video games.
Photograph: Jack Weir; restoration: CarolSpears