Local officials estimated in 1969 that close to one million people turned out to watch the launch.

Watching The Apollo 11 Liftoff

On July 16, 1969, the day the moon mission blasted into space, photographer David Burnett turned his lens on the crowds who gathered to watch the historic moment.

Enter

share

Get the Latest Photos from Time.com
Get TIME photos and pictures of the week delivered directly to your inbox.