"Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon July 1969, A.D. We came in peace for all mankind." -- Inscription on the plaque of the Apollo 11 lunar module.
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong made history when he landed on the moon with Buzz Aldrin and took that first "small step for mankind" on the lunar surface. Forty-five years later, we remember that day during the Apollo 11 mission as one that changed the world forever.
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Now, you've probably seen the incredible, iconic image of a boot print on the moon -- and that photograph of Aldrin posing next to the U.S. flag.
But have you seen what the astronauts ate for breakfast the morning of the launch, or the photo of them peeking through a small window to greet their wives after their return home?
Scroll through a rare collection of photographs below to relive the mission from start to finish.
Training
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
The Apollo 11 crew relaxes during training on May 24, 1969.
Press Conference
NASA/AFP/Getty
The space crew of the Apollo 11 mission sits in front of cameras answering journalists' questions during the night before the liftoff at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on July 16, 1969.
Launch Day Breakfast
NASA
The Apollo 11 crew and Donald K. "Deke" Slayton at the traditional launch day steak and eggs breakfast.
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Suiting Up
NASA
Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong prepares to don his helmet on launch day.
Suiting Up
NASA/Scanned by Ed Hengeveld
Technician Joe Schmitt suiting Apollo 11 Command Module Pilot Michael Collins for launch.
Ready To Launch
NASA
Armstrong leads the crew from the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building to the transfer van.
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Before Liftoff
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center.
Apollo 11 Saturn V on launch pad 39A.
Blastoff!
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Apollo 11 lifts off, from launch tower camera on July 16, 1969.
Blastoff!
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Moonbound Apollo 11 clears the launch tower.
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Spiro Agnew And LBJ
NASA/AFP/Getty
US Vice-President Spiro Agnew and former US President Lyndon B. Johnson are seen in a crowd watching the liftoff of the Apollo 11 mission at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on July 16, 1969.
In Flight
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Lunar module pilot Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin during Apollo 11 mission.
Lunar Orbit
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Earthrise viewed from lunar orbit prior to landing.
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Lunar Orbit
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Crater 308 viewed from orbit.
Lunar Module Descent
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Flight controllers during lunar module descent.
Exiting Lunar Module
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Buzz Aldrin exits the lunar module.
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Exiting Lunar Module
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Aldrin on the lunar module footpad.
Lunar Module Plaque
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
"Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon July 1969, A.D. We came in peace for all mankind."
On The Moon
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Aldrin stands beside the lunar module strut.
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On The Moon
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Aldrin poses for portrait.
Raising The Flag
NASA
Armstrong and Aldrin raise the U.S. flag on the lunar surface.
On The Moon
NASA
Aldrin poses next to the U.S. flag on the moon.
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Footprint
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Aldrin's boot and footprint in lunar soil.
Footprint
NASA
Aldrin photographed this footprint in the lunar soil as part of an experiment to study the nature of lunar dust and the effects of pressure on the surface.
On The Moon
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Aldrin carries experiments for deployment.
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On The Moon
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Aldrin assembles seismic experiment
On The Moon
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Neil Armstrong works at the lunar module.
Taking A Photo
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Armstrong photo of lunar module from a distance.
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After Moonwalk
NASA
Armstrong in the lunar module after his historic moonwalk.
After Moonwalk
NASA
Aldrin in lunar module after moonwalk.
Flag From Lunar Module
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Flag and TV camera viewed from the lunar module window.
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In-Flight Demonstration
NASA
Aldrin shows his Earth-bound television audience how to make a sandwich in space during his journey home from the moon. When this picture was made, Apollo 11 was approximately 137,000 nautical miles from Earth.
Earth
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Closeup of Earth during return trip.
Splashdown
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Mission Control celebrates after splashdown, July 24, 1969.
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Return Home
NASA
The Apollo 11 crew await pickup by a helicopter. The Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia splashed down at 11:49 a.m. CDT, July 24, 1969, about 812 nautical miles southwest of Hawaii.
In Quarantine
NASA History Office and the NASA JSC Media Services Center
Apollo 11 astronauts, still in their quarantine van, are greeted by their wives upon arrival at Ellington Air Force Base onJuly 27, 1969.
In Quarantine
NASA/Scanned by Jay Hanks
The Apollo 11 crew relaxes in the quarantine van.
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40th Anniversary
AFP/Getty Images
These NASA handout images show at top the Apollo 11 lunar landing astronaut crew from left: Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin E. 'Buzz' Aldrin Jr. At bottom from left are Edwin E. 'Buzz' Aldrin, Michael Collins, Neil Armstrong on the eve of the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11's first human landing on the Moon at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, on July 19, 2009.
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