Apollo 10 commander, Thomas P. Stafford (left) and Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Deputy Director Albert Siepert (right) talk with U.S. Vice President Spiro T. Agnew a few minutes before the launch of Apollo 11. The Apollo 11 mission, the first manned lunar mission, launched from KSC, Florida via the Saturn V launch vehicle on July 16, 1969 and safely returned to Earth on July 24, 1969. The Saturn V vehicle was developed by the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) under the direction of Dr. Wernher von Braun. Aboard the space craft were astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, Command Module (CM) pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module (LM) pilot. The CM, piloted by Michael Collins remained in a parking orbit around the Moon while the LM, named “Eagle’’, carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, landed on the Moon. Armstrong was the first human to ever stand on the lunar surface, followed by Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin. During 2½ hours of surface exploration, the crew collected 47 pounds of lunar surface material for analysis back on Earth. With the success of Apollo 11, the national objective to land men on the Moon and return them safely to Earth had been accomplished.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mr. A. Siepert, assistant director, NASA-KSC, signs the last major beam autographed by construction workers, NASA, and Corps of Engineers employees to be installed during the VAB Topping-Off Ceremony. MILA. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the 500,000th visitor to take a NASA escorted bus tour, Donald A. Jackson of Sabina, Ohio, was welcomed at the new Visitor Information Center on Merritt Island by deputy center director Albert F. Siepert, left. Jackson toured the center with his wife, Sue, and their three children, Cheryl, Craig and Doug. Jackson works for the National Cash Register Co. The 500,000th visitor was recorded less than an hour after the Visitor Information Center was officially opened to the public at 8:45 a.m. The NASA tours were begun July 22, 1966, and since that time visitors from every state in the nation and more than 60 nations have toured the space center. Photo Credit: NASA