In pictures: the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969

Crowds gathered for the Kennedy Space Centre launch include former US President Lyndon B Johnson. (NASA)

Rockets propel Apollo 11 away from the Earth's surface. This image was captured by a telescopic camera mounted on an Air Force plane. (NASA)

Apollo 11's lunar landing module 'Eagle' is photographed by Collins who remained on board the Command and Service Modules while Armstrong and Aldrin descended onto the lunar surface on 20 July 1969. (NASA)

Mission commander Neil Armstrong is photographed by Aldrin after the pair successfully landed on the moon. (NASA)

Buzz Alrin is shown in an iconic image captured by Armstrong as the astronauts explored the moon's Sea of Tranquility. (NASA)

Another iconic Apollo 11 image: Buzz Aldrin's bootprint on the lunar surface. (NASA)

Aldrin is pictured setting up a solar wind composition experiment on the moon. (NASA)

A replica of the gold olive branch, a symbol of peace, Armstrong left on the moon's surface during Apollo 11's mission. (NASA)

The three astronauts inside their landing pod after returning through the Earth's atmosphere. Members of the US Navy are alongside in a raft. (NASA)

The US Navy rescued the three returned Apollo 11 astronauts after they landed in the Pacific Ocean on 24 July 1969. (NASA)

President Richard Nixon and NASA administrator Dr Thomas Paine wait for the astronauts to be flown from their landing pod to the USS Hornet. (NASA)

The three astonauts of Apollo 11 from left: Neil Armstrong, commander, Michael Collins, command module pilot, and Edwin Aldrin Jr, lunar module pilot. (NASA)

President Nixon welcomes the astronauts aboard the USS Hornet. The three men are pictured inside a quarantine facility on board the ship to prevent the spread of any potential lunar contagions. (NASA)

Flight controllers at NASA's Mission Control Centre celebrate the success of Apollo 11's lunar landing mission on 24 July 1969. (NASA)

NASA and Manned Spacecraft Centre officials join flight controllers in their post-mission celebrations. (NASA)

The Apollo 11 astronauts greet the thronging crowds gathered along New York City streets in mid-August 1969 during their ticker-tape parade celebrating the lunar mission. (NASA)