On July 21, 1969, Apollo 11 made history by landing the first humans, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on the moon. While this event is widely celebrated as a scientific triumph, it was marred by the earlier tragic loss of astronauts during earlier missions. The landing was the culmination of the space race and represented a giant leap for mankind. The event inspired generations to come, but it also highlighted the risks of human space exploration. Armstrongs famous words Thats one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind continue to resonate.