Apollo 11 Saturn V rocket launch, 16th July 1969. This high-speed footage shows one of the launch tower's swing arms, which is retracted just before the rocket lifts off. The swing arms provided services and access to each stage of the vehicle. The Apollo 11 mission was launched from pad 39a at Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, USA, on July 16th 1969, and was the first manned mission to land on the Moon. Crew members were Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin Buzz Aldrin. They returned to Earth and landed in the Pacific Ocean on July 24th.