Finally, the door opened. Neil Armstrong climbed down first. He put one foot on the moon. Then, the other foot. And then came his words, from so far away:

NEIL ARMSTRONG: “That's one small step for man. One giant leap for mankind."

STEVE EMBER: That's one small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.

WALTER CRONKITE: “Man on the Moon. Oh, boy! Whew, boy!

RADIO COMMUNICATIONS: “OK, were gonna be busy for a minute.”

CBS Television newsman Walter Cronkite shared the excitement that he and so many people felt as man first walked on the surface of the moon.

Years later, Cronkite would remember the historical significance (importance) of that moment in nineteen sixty-nine.

WALTER CRONKITE: “It’s hard, I think, to imagine our emotions at the moment. It really was something that

had

to grip you. It was as if you could have stood at the dock and waved goodbye to Columbus. You knew darn good and well that this was the real history in the making.”

Armstrong walked around. Soon, Aldrin joined him.

NASA RADIO COMMUNICATION: “They’re setting up the flag now.”

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin plant the US flag on the moon on July 20, 1969

The two men placed an American flag on the surface of the moon. They also collected moon rocks and soil.

When it was time to leave, they returned to the Eagle and guided it safely away. They reunited with the Columbia and headed for home. The United States had won the race to the moon.