The United States landed its first man on the moon in 1969, during the Apollo 11 mission. On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made history as they became the first humans to set foot on the lunar surface, with Armstrong famously declaring, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." The mission was a culmination of years of effort and competition during the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The successful landing not only marked a monumental achievement in space exploration but also symbolized American ingenuity and the spirit of adventure.