Introduction: Why Apollo 11 Still Matters: On July 20, 1969, NASA’s Apollo 11 mission achieved the first crewed landing on the Moon, turning a bold vision into concrete footprints on lunar dust. Commanded by Neil A. Armstrong with Buzz Aldrin (Lunar Module Pilot) and Michael Collins (Command Module Pilot), the mission fulfilled President Kennedy’s 1961 goal to land humans on the Moon and return them safely to Earth. Beyond the flag and the famous words, Apollo 11 catalyzed advances in computing, materials, communications, and systems engineering that still shape our world. This article walks through the full journey—planning, launch, landing, moonwalks, and return—plus the mission’s human experiences and lasting legacy.