Cadet Competition Written Practice Exam

Who was the first man to walk on the Moon?

1. Buzz Aldrin

2. Neil Armstrong

3. Yuri Gagarin

4. Michael Collins

The correct answer is: Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969, during the Apollo 11 mission. As the commander of the mission, he famously stepped onto the lunar surface and uttered the iconic words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." His historic moment was broadcasted globally, symbolizing a significant achievement in space exploration and human endeavor. In contrast, Buzz Aldrin, while he was also part of the Apollo 11 mission and walked on the Moon shortly after Armstrong, was not the first. Yuri Gagarin was the first human in space, but he never traveled to the Moon. Michael Collins was the command module pilot for Apollo 11 and remained in lunar orbit during Armstrong and Aldrin's moonwalk but did not walk on the lunar surface himself. This context reinforces the significance of Neil Armstrong’s achievement as the first person to set foot on the Moon.