In July 1969, three men travelled 240,000 miles from the Earth to the Moon. This is their story. They did so in the largest, most powerful rocket ever built – the Saturn 5.

Mission Commander Neil Armstrong Command Module Pilot Michael Collins Lunar Module Pilot Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin

Days before launch, the mighty Saturn 5 begins its 1 mile per hour journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad 3 miles away.

Early morning and mission Commander, Neil Armstrong, suits up ready for lift off. Before long, all three astronauts are heading out for the launch pad.

Nine seconds before lift off the rocket’s five engines ignited. It was 1.32 pm on July 16 th, 1969.

The Saturn 5 was built in three pieces called ‘stages’. As each stage used up its fuel, it would be released and would fall back to Earth.

12 minutes after lift off they were in orbit around the Earth travelling at 17,000 miles per hour, which is 4.6 miles a second!

Now, the third stage of the Saturn 5 had to fire its engine once again to increase speed to over 24,000 miles per hour. This allowed the rocket to break free from orbit and shoot them off on their 4 day journey to the moon.

The space craft that reached the moon was actually in two main parts. The Command Module, called ‘Columbia’, was flown by Michael Collins and would stay in orbit around the moon. While the Lunar Module would detach and take Aldrin and Armstrong down to the surface.

While in lunar orbit, this famous photograph was taken showing the ‘Earth rise’ from the Moon.

The Lunar Module separated from the Command Module and began its descent down to the surface of the Moon. On board were Mission Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module pilot Buzz Aldrin.

This is a close up view of the Apollo 11 landing site at Mare Tranquilitatis.

Six hours after safely landing the Lunar Module, Neil Armstrong climbed down the Lunar Module ladder and set foot on the Moon. He was followed out 20 minutes later by Buzz Aldrin.

They spent two and a half hours working on the Moon, setting up scientific experiments and collecting rock and dust samples. They also planted the American flag and took photos of themselves and their surroundings. It is said that the footprints they left behind might remain for thousands of years because there is no wind or rain to remove them.

After spending a total of just 21 hours on the Moon, Neil and Buzz blasted off to rendezvous with Michael Collins who was waiting in orbit for their return.

On July 24 th 1969, the Command Module of Apollo 11 re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and successfully deployed its parachutes. Columbia safely splashed down in the Pacific ocean. The astronauts were immediately rescued and taken on board the USS Hornet.

On board waiting for them, was the American President, Richard Nixon. However, because there was a fear that the astronauts might have brought back ‘Moon bugs’, they were placed in quarantine for 21 days.

When the astronauts were allowed out of quarantine they became national heroes. Every city they visited held parades in their honour and thousands would turn out to cheer them on. They eventually toured the world as ambassadors for America.

In July 2009, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins and Neil Armstrong met American President Barack Obama as part of the celebrations for the 40 th Anniversary of the Moon landing.

Landing men on the Moon was probably the greatest scientific, engineering and technological achievement in the history of the human race, and is summed up perfectly by Neil Armstrong’s historic first words.

Neil Armstrong 2.56 am Monday 21 st July 1969 The Sea of Tranquillity The Moon