Today marks the 50th anniversary of the day humans first walked on the moon.
Events are taking place around the world to mark the milestone.
The ‘Eagle’ lunar module landed on the moon at 9:18pm Irish time on July 20th 1969.
Just over six hours later Neil Armstrong became the first person to step foot on another world, with his famous words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
He was followed by Buzz Aldrin who remarked: “Beautiful view.”
The pair spent two hours on the moon’s surface before embarking on their return journey to Earth.
Michael Collins, the third astronaut involved in the landing, orbited the moon in the Columbia spacecraft.
The US President Donald Trump welcomed Aldrin and Collins to the White House last night ahead of the anniversary.
"Tomorrow is a very big day... 50 years from the time we planted a beautiful American flag on the moon," he said in the Oval Office.
After the meeting, Aldrin tweeted: "Just had an excellent meeting with President Donald Trump! We discussed America´s future in space, ways to address space challenges, and the need to keep exploring beyond the horizon.
"Keep America Great in Space!!"
Just had an excellent meeting with President Donald Trump! We discussed America’s future in space, ways to address space challenges, and the need to keep exploring beyond the horizon. Keep America Great in Space!! #Apollo50 #ApolloXI https://t.co/zv2LgoCheD
— Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) July 19, 2019
Armstrong died at the age of 82 in august 2012 and his relatives were present at the meeting.
Only 12 people have ever walked on the moon and astronauts have travelled no further than low-Earth orbit since the last landing in 1972.
Press release of the text of message from @PresidentIRL Éamon de Valera carried to moon by #Apollo11 - the last clause was an addition to Aiken's initial draft #Apollo50th #Apollo50 @RIAdawson @dfatirl (NAI 2009/115/71) pic.twitter.com/HxHj7ttj9m
— DIFP (@DIFP_RIA) July 16, 2019
President Trump has now ordered NASA to return to the moon by 2024 – before continuing with plans for the first manned mission to Mars.
The mission also aims to be the first to land a woman on the moon and is aptly named Project Artemis – after Apollo’s twin sister, the Greek goddess of hunting.
This time however, the plan is not just to visit the moon but to stay there.
If NASA succeeds in establishing a manned colony on the moon it could then be used as a base for future missions to asteroids, Mars and the rest of the Solar System.
Awesome! Launch projected on to Washington Monument #apollo11anniversary pic.twitter.com/YVypbKFO4L
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) July 20, 2019
