This weekend marks 50 years since astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the lunar surface.

The landing craft carrying the Apollo 11 Commander and fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin touched down on the moon on July 20 1969, before Armstrong stepped out and onto the surface, declaring: “That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Armstrong made history as he placed his left foot on the moon at 3.56am UK time on July 21, making him the first human to ever step on anything that has not existed on or originated from the Earth.

Aldrin followed a few moments later, as their colleague Michael Collins waited in the command module in orbit around the moon.

As the world marvelled 50 years ago, interest in the moon remains high today with ambitions to return after the last Apollo mission in 1972.

US vice president Mike Pence has told Nasa that president Donald Trump wants astronauts back on the moon within five years, while multinational plans are in the works for a new space station around it.

Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos Show all 19 1 /19 Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos Buzz Aldrin walks on the moon in an image taken by Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos Wernher von Braun in front of the Saturn V rocket, being readied for the lunar mission, in Cape Canaveral on 10 July 1969. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos The Saturn V rocket carries the Apollo 11 into space on 16 July 1969. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos The crew (from left): Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos The launch control centre watches the rocket take off on 16 July 1969. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos The American flag flutters as the Apollo 11 heads into space. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos The interior of the landing module with its pilot, Buzz Aldrin, during the mission. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos Earthrise viewed from the lunar landing module. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos Flight controllers at the Space Centre in Houston as the landing module descends to the surface of the moon. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos The landing module in lunar orbit on 20 July 1969. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos Buzz Aldrin's boot and footprint in lunar soil. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos Buzz Aldrin standing by the US flag planted on the surface of the moon. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos Crater 308 on the moon. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos Buzz Aldrin’s boot print in the moon’s dust. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos Aldrin deploys the passive seismic experiment package. To the left of the US flag in the background is the lunar surface television camera. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos Buzz Aldrin stands next to a lunar seismometer. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos Neil Armstrong works near the lunar landing module. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos Members of the Apollo 11 crew wait to be picked up by a helicopter from the USS Hornet on 24 July 1969. Nasa/EPA Apollo 11 mission: Historic first moon landing in photos US president Richard Nixon welcomes the Apollo 11 astronauts, confined to a mobile quarantine facility, aboard the USS Hornet. Nasa/EPA

The UK Space Agency is bidding to play a part in the communication and refuelling elements of the proposed Lunar Orbital Platform - Gateway, a future outpost intended to serve as a laboratory and short-term accommodation post for astronauts exploring the moon.

Collins, who attended a celebration at Kennedy Space Centre's Launch Complex 39A in Florida on Tuesday, described it as a “wonderful feeling” to be back at the spot where the Saturn V rocket blasted the trio off into space.

“Apollo 11 ... was serious business,” he said.

“We, crew, felt the weight of the world on our shoulders. We knew that everyone would be looking at us, friend or foe, and we wanted to do the best we possibly could.”

For much of the week, people from all walks of life have been sharing their own memories of Apollo 11, but interest has not stopped at those able to witness the historic feat, with events carried out across the globe.

According to a survey by Lego of 1,000 children aged between eight and 12, 90% want to learn more about space, while 87% were able to correctly identify Armstrong as the first person to walk on the moon.

Professor Mike Cruise, president of the Royal Astronomical Society, said: “I was a young space scientist when the Apollo 11 spacecraft landed, but the memory of this extraordinary moment has stayed with me throughout my life.

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“The grand ambitions of the Apollo programme inspired people around the world and the 50th anniversary is a special moment.

“It is a time to reflect not only on the heroism of the astronauts and the amazing talents of all those involved in the missions, but to think big once again about exploring space, and the exciting prospects for those considering careers in science.”