Forty-five years ago, humankind made a giant leap.
On July 20, 1969, the spaceflight Apollo 11 landed on the moon, and American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the lunar surface.
Apollo 11, the fifth manned mission in NASA's Apollo space program, launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on July 16, 1969 -- with astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin and Michael Collins on board.
The Apollo spacecraft consisted of three components: the Command Module, the Service Module and the Lunar Module (the part that would actually land on the moon).
While Collins remained in the Command Module, Armstrong and Aldrin ventured onto the surface of the moon. Upon landing, Armstrong radioed in his famous message: "Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed."
Armstrong and Aldrin spent two-and-a-half hours on the moon, according to Space.com, performing experiments and collecting data before returning to the Command Module, and eventually Earth.
In addition to leaving an American flag, Armstrong and Aldrin left a plaque that read: "Here men from the planet Earth first set foot on the moon — July 1969 A.D. — We came in peace for all mankind." The team returned to Earth on July 24, 1969.
Today is the 45th Anniversary of our Apollo 11 moon landing. We've met the President every 5 years since 1969. Here … http://t.co/uWEVAc4bpz— Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) July 20, 2014
On this 45th anniversary of our moon landing I am heading to KSC to meet up with Michael Collins. Neil will be missed but with us in spirit.— Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) July 20, 2014
In the years after the moon landing, a "Space Age of scientific, technological and human research" boomed, on which NASA said it has built the modern era of space exploration and technology.
Now, the space agency has its eyes set on Mars, the "next giant leap" for humankind. NASA calls its plan the "Path to Mars", and research is currently underway -- both on Earth and aboard the International Space Station -- to send the first humans to the Red Planet.
Check out photos, below, of the Apollo 11 team training for the mission, taking their first steps on the moon and returning home safely.
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