50 years ago today, Apollo 11 launched for the Moon

On July 20, 1969, humans walked on another world for the first time in history. Four days earlier, on July 16, the Apollo 11 mission launched with Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins onboard.

The Moon landing achieved a goal that President John F. Kennedy set in 1961, before Americans had even orbited the Earth. After a landing that included dodging a lunar crater and a boulder field just before touchdown, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin explored the area around their landing site for more than two hours.

They collected soil and rock samples, planted an American flag, and left behind a plaque with a simple message for the heavens: "We came in peace for all mankind."

For this historic anniversary, the National Air and Space Museum held a special ceremony today, displaying the same space suit that mission commander Armstrong wore when he took that "giant leap for mankind."

  NASA: At 9:32 a.m. ET, Apollo 11 launched, sending 3 astronauts to the Moon

"At that moment, the nation held its breath—a nation that had been deeply divided during the tumultuous 1960s," Vice President Mike Pence said during the unveiling ceremony. "On top of the contributions to science and human understanding, for that brief moment, the man who wore this suit brought together our nation and the world."

Neil Armstrong was known as 'Ice Commander' among his colleagues, a testament to his strength of character and ability to remain calm under pressure. His iron will was on full display while touching down on the lunar surface, during which he likely saved the lives of his two crewmembers. The designated landing area, it turns out, was full of boulders large enough to potentially doom the entire mission. Armstrong calmly took control of the module and found a safe spot to land with only 17 seconds of fuel left to spare.

"The debt this nation owes to our Apollo astronauts, including the man who wore the suit that we unveil today, we can never fully repay," the Vice President said.

Heroes such as the Apollo 11 crew helped pave the way for more achievements by the men and women of NASA. Under President Donald J. Trump, the best is still to come.

America is renewing its commitment to be the sole leader in space activity and exploration. After remaining dormant for the past quarter-century, the National Space Council was given new life by President Trump. NASA now has a renewed mission: to return America to the moon within the next five years—and, from there, on to Mars.

"I have a feeling that the man who wore the suit that we will unveil today would be glad to know that the first woman and the next man on the moon will also be an American," the Vice President said.

Relive the Apollo 11 launch, 50 years later.