In my opinion it makes perfect sense for people to remember "the first" of big achievements. For instance, if you ask me "Who was the first person to fly?" I know the answer by heart (well..., I know it was the Wright brothers, no clue whether Orville or Wilbur was the very first). Same with first person in space, first person to orbit, first person to step on the moon. And, once it happens, I'll definitely remember the name of whoever sets foot on Mars first.
Common misconception - first person to fly in what we now would call an aeroplane: 1853, George Cayley makes the first aeroplane and rides in it. 1856 - Jean Bris makes a powered (literally horsepower) aeroplane. 1895- Otto Lilienthal flies a heavier-than-air aircraft.