Man’s dream of landing on the moon came true in 1969. It was 7-02 p.m. (IST), Wednesday, July 16, 1969. The American spaceship Apollo 11, lifted off at Cape Kennedy, U.S.A. On it were the three astronauts-Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin. The ship travelled about 4,00,000 kilometres. At 1-47 a.m. (IST), Monday, July 21, 1969, the Eagle Module, carrying Armstrong and Collins landed on the moon. Armstrong was the first to walk on the moon. His words were, "That’s one small step for a man, one giant step for mankind."

Aldrin landed next. The astronauts planted the American flag. They put down the scientific package. They collected samples of the soil and rocks of the moon.

Then the Eagle took off. It joined the mothership. Apollo 11 began its journey back to the earth. It splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at night on Thursday the 24th of July, 1969. Man had conquered the moon at last.