National Moon Day 2024 (US) Date, History and Significance: Know All About the Space Exploration Day Celebrated in the United States
National Moon Day is an important event in the history of the US. The success of Apollo 11 fulfilled then President John F. Kennedy's goal of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth before the end of the 1960s.
Every year, National Moon Day is celebrated across the United States of America (USA) on July 20. The annual event commemorates the historic moon landing of Apollo 11 in 1969. On this day, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the moon. Armstrong's famous words upon stepping onto the moon were, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." National Moon Day celebrates this monumental achievement in space exploration and aims to inspire people around the world to develop an interest in space and science. In this article, let’s know more about the National Moon Day 2024 date and the significance of the annual event celebrated in the US. Space Exploration Day 2024 Date and History: Here’s Significance of the Day That Commemorates the Anniversary of the First Moon Landing by Apollo 11.
National Moon Day 2024 Date
National Moon Day 2024 will be celebrated on Saturday, July 20.
National Moon Day History
The historic moon landing of Apollo 11 took place on July 20, 1969. This mission was a significant milestone in space exploration and human history. Apollo 11 was launched from the Kennedy Space Center on July 16, 1969. The mission was crewed by three astronauts - Neil Armstrong (mission commander), Edwin Buzz Aldrin, who was the lunar module pilot, and Michael Collins, who was the command module pilot. The lunar module, named ‘Eagle’, landed on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
Neil Armstrong was the first to step onto the lunar surface, followed by Buzz Aldrin. The astronauts conducted experiments, collected lunar samples, and planted the American flag. They spent about 21 hours on the lunar surface before returning to the lunar module.
National Moon Day Significance
National Moon Day is an important event in the history of the US. The success of Apollo 11 fulfilled then President John F. Kennedy's goal of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth before the end of the 1960s. This mission marked an important moment in the space race and demonstrated the capabilities of human ingenuity and exploration. On this day, several activities and events are organised across the US like educational events, moon-themed parties, workshops on space exploration and stargazing sessions.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 20, 2024 10:23 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).