Astronauts Treated to Hero’s Welcome on Return to Earth

It was one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind. 50 years ago, on July 20, 1969, man landed on the moon, leaving the first human footprints on its dusty surface.
The three NASA astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins returned to a hero’s welcome.
Armstrong and Aldrin spent 21 hours, 36 minutes on the moon’s surface. After a rest period, that included seven hours of sleep, they began the journey home.
After a flight of 195 hours, 18 minutes, 35 seconds – about 36 minutes longer than planned – Apollo 11 splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, 13 miles from the recovery ship USS Hornet.
The trio, including command module pilot Michael Collins, returned to a hero’s welcome.
President Richard Nixon greeted the Apollo 11 astronauts in their isolation unit aboard the USS Hornet.
On 13 August, crowds lined the streets of midtown Manhattan, New York to welcome the Apollo 11 astronauts.