From Cold War rivalry to cooperative exploration, America's venture into space was just beginning when the first humans set foot on the Moon in 1969. This landmark event not only defined space exploration but also influenced American society, politics, and identity for many years to come.
Beginning with the records of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, established in 1915 to address flight issues and conduct aeronautics research, the National Archives preserves NASA's records and other materials related to aeronautics. You can explore thousands of documents, newspapers, videos, and photographs, including an iconic image of Buzz Aldrin standing next to the U.S. flag on the lunar surface, in the space exploration holdings of the National Archives.
