The Apollo 11 mission, launched on July 16, 1969, was a historic endeavor marking humanity's first Moon landing. Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins comprised the crew, with Armstrong and Aldrin descending to the Moon's surface while Collins remained in the command module. The mission highlights include:

1. **Launch**: Utilizing a Saturn V rocket from Cape Kennedy, the spacecraft entered Earth orbit and later trans-lunar injection.
2. **Lunar Orbit**: On July 20, the command module Columbia separated from the lunar module Eagle.
3. **Landing**: Armstrong and Aldrin landed at Tranquility Base in the Sea of Tranquility. Armstrong's iconic statement underscored the historic moment.
4. **Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA)**: The astronauts spent ~2.5 hours on the Moon, collecting samples, deploying the American flag and scientific equipment.
5. **Departure and Return**: The lunar module liftoff reunited with Columbia, and the spacecraft journeyed back to Earth.
6. **Splashdown**: The mission concluded on July 24 with a Pacific Ocean landing, retrieved by the USS Hornet.

This mission, a pinnacle of the 20th century, symbolized a significant leap in space exploration.