On This Day in 1969: NASA Names Apollo 11 Crew That Would Make History on the Moon
By Space Coast Daily // January 9, 2026
January 9, 1969
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – On this day in 1969, NASA formally announced the prime crew selected to carry out the Apollo 11 mission, a decision that would soon mark one of the most defining moments in human history.
The agency revealed that astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins would lead the ambitious effort to attempt the first crewed landing on the Moon.
At the time of the announcement, the mission represented the culmination of years of scientific innovation, engineering breakthroughs, and national commitment to space exploration. Armstrong was named mission commander, Aldrin the lunar module pilot, and Collins the command module pilot, each bringing extensive experience and training to the historic endeavor.
Just months after the crew was unveiled, Apollo 11 launched from Kennedy Space Center in July 1969 and fulfilled President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to land a man on the Moon and return him safely to Earth. While Armstrong and Aldrin descended to the lunar surface aboard the lunar module Eagle, Collins remained in orbit around the Moon, piloting the command module Columbia and ensuring the crew’s safe return.
When Armstrong stepped onto the Moon on July 20, 1969, followed shortly by Aldrin, their achievement became a defining symbol of human ingenuity and exploration. Together with Collins, the Apollo 11 astronauts secured their place in history by completing the first successful crewed lunar landing, an accomplishment that continues to inspire generations more than half a century later.
