The Moon Landing at 50: Find Out More About This Special Edition of National Geographic Magazine

Fifty years ago this July 20th, people from the Earth walked on the Moon. It was the ultimate expression of the ultimate adventure: a human footprint on a different celestial body. But more than that, it was the moment when the world came together in wonder – and as one planet, took both a one small step (and a giant leap) onto another.

Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins may have been the astronauts aboard Apollo 11, but hundreds of millions went with them – and today the legacy of the first mission to the moon is inspiring a new generation of spaceflight. From investigating the feasibility of a mission to Mars to using our lunar neighbour as a planetary base, and pushing the boundaries of commercial flight out of the atmosphere and into space, this is arguably the most exciting era of space possibilities since the moon landing itself. This month, National Geographic celebrate a new age of space exploration.  

A Special Edition of National Geographic

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11's epochal mission to the moon – and its safe return to Earth – the UK newsstand edition of National Geographic comes free with a reprint of its historic 1969 coverage. Packed into 64 glossy pages, you can relive – or discover anew – the personnel, the planning, the passion, and those timeless photographs brought together again in one collector's edition 64-page publication.

Scroll down to find out more.

We are entering a new era of space exploration. With Mars on the horizon, commercial spaceflight becoming a reality and the moon once again in the world's sights, this issue takes a look at where we've been, where we are and what's coming next in our relationship with space. 

// The Pioneers
A photographic tribute to those who went first: from the pioneering animal passengers, to the first spacesuits, and the spacecraft that made it back.

// Getting There  
The rockets that broke out of the Earth's atmosphere were the product of a space race between The Soviet Union and the United States. Learn how they were developed, how they compare – and how far they've come right up to the present day. 

// Where We Went
Since the first days of spaceflight, where have we sent our creations into the cosmos? 10 missions to the sun, 19 to Venus, 1 to Pluto – and many, many more. Discover what we learned along the way. 

// What's Next
The red planet beckons, as does a return to the moon – and the monetising and industrialising of spaceflight. How close is it – and who is going to be first? Further trips to the moon could provide the key to much longer trips to our nearest planetary neighbour, and the day we put a human footprint on Mars.  

Fifty years after it touched down on the moon, relive – or be inspired for the first time – the full story of the mission that changed the world, in the words of the people who were there. 

// The Flight of Apollo 11
A photo dossier of the spaceflight the world was watching – both on the ground, and into space. 

// Sounds of the Space Age
Apollo 8 commander Frank Borman presents an audio history of our journey to the stars. Listen here. 

// Man Walks on Another World 
A full transcript of the historic conversation between Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin as they became the first explorers on the moon. 

// What the Moon Rocks Tell Us
Rocks from another world, under the microscope – and the scrutiny of a whole generations of scientists exploring a brand new substance for the first time. 

// Next Steps in Space
Fifty years ago, this was where we thought we would go next. Discover how accurate our predictions of the frontiers of the future were.

National Geographic Magazine July 2019 is out now, and available at all good retailers.