The first manned moon landing occurred in 1969. Specifically, the historic event took place on July 20, when NASA's Apollo 11 mission successfully landed astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin on the lunar surface. Armstrong became the first human to step onto the moon, famously declaring, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." The mission marked a significant achievement in space exploration and showcased human ingenuity and determination, inspiring generations and solidifying the United States' position in the space race against the Soviet Union.