The first man to walk on the Moon was Neil Armstrong. He was the commander of NASA's Apollo 11 mission, which launched on July 16, 1969, and successfully landed on the lunar surface on July 20, 1969. As he stepped onto the Moon, Armstrong famously declared, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." His achievement marked a pivotal moment in human history and space exploration, as it represented the first time humans set foot on another celestial body. Armstrong's journey inspired generations and underscored the possibilities of scientific advancement.