"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."...Neil Armstrong
Like most Americans in July 1969, I remember well Neil Armstrong, along with Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin, taking off for the moon. Like most Americans at the time, I also remember well when Armstrong took his now famous first step on the moon on July 20, 1969.
Neil Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio on August 5, 1930. In 1947, he earned his student pilot's license. He entered Purdue in aeronautical engineering but his studies were interrupted by the Korean War. He served in the Navy as an aviator from 1949 to 1952 flying 78 combat missions during the war.
After leaving the Navy in 1952, Armstrong returned to college. He later joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA, later NASA). Over the next 17 years, he served as a test pilot, astronaut and administrator.
He was a project pilot in pioneering high speed jet aircraft including the X-15. He flew over 200 different models of aircraft including jets, helicopters, gliders and rockets.
In 1962, Armstrong was placed on astronaut status. He later served as the command pilot for his firms mission, Gemeni VIII. Gemeni VIII was launched on March 16, 1966 when Armstrong performed the first successful docking of two vehicles in space.
On July 20, 1969, as Commander of Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing mission, Neil Armstrong became the first man to land a craft on the moon and take the first steps on the moon.
Armstrong remained at NASA until 1971. After leaving, he joined the faculty at the University of Cincinnati serving as professor of aerospace engineering. After leaving the university, he later served as chair of Computing Technologies for Aviation. He also served as vice chair of the Presidential Commission on the space shuttle Challenger accident in 1986.
Armstrong was the recipient of 17 awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom; the Congressional Gold Medal and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
Neil Armstrong passed away on August 25, 2012 following complications from cardiovascular surgery. He was 82.
Like most Americans in July 1969, I remember well Neil Armstrong, along with Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin, taking off for the moon. Like most Americans at the time, I also remember well when Armstrong took his now famous first step on the moon on July 20, 1969.
Neil Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio on August 5, 1930. In 1947, he earned his student pilot's license. He entered Purdue in aeronautical engineering but his studies were interrupted by the Korean War. He served in the Navy as an aviator from 1949 to 1952 flying 78 combat missions during the war.
After leaving the Navy in 1952, Armstrong returned to college. He later joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA, later NASA). Over the next 17 years, he served as a test pilot, astronaut and administrator.
He was a project pilot in pioneering high speed jet aircraft including the X-15. He flew over 200 different models of aircraft including jets, helicopters, gliders and rockets.
In 1962, Armstrong was placed on astronaut status. He later served as the command pilot for his firms mission, Gemeni VIII. Gemeni VIII was launched on March 16, 1966 when Armstrong performed the first successful docking of two vehicles in space.
On July 20, 1969, as Commander of Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing mission, Neil Armstrong became the first man to land a craft on the moon and take the first steps on the moon.
Armstrong remained at NASA until 1971. After leaving, he joined the faculty at the University of Cincinnati serving as professor of aerospace engineering. After leaving the university, he later served as chair of Computing Technologies for Aviation. He also served as vice chair of the Presidential Commission on the space shuttle Challenger accident in 1986.
Armstrong was the recipient of 17 awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom; the Congressional Gold Medal and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
Neil Armstrong passed away on August 25, 2012 following complications from cardiovascular surgery. He was 82.
