Neil Armstrong

Neil Alden Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012) was an American astronaut and aeronautical engineer. He became famous as the commander of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission. He was the first person to walk on the Moon.

Before becoming an astronaut, Armstrong was a naval aviator, a test pilot, and a university professor.

Armstrong was born and raised near Wapakoneta, Ohio. He studied aeronautical engineering at Purdue University, and served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He later became a test pilot and joined the NASA Astronaut Corps in 1962.

On July 20, 1969, Armstrong and fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon, with Michael Collins staying in orbit. When Armstrong first stepped onto the lunar surface, he said, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." This moment was watched by millions of people around the world. After leaving NASA in 1971, Armstrong taught engineering at the University of Cincinnati and served on important space investigation committees.

Early life and education

Neil Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930, in Washington Township, in Auglaize County, Ohio. He grew up moving around Ohio with his family. From a very young age, Armstrong loved flying. His father took him to watch airplane races and even let him fly in a Ford Trimotor when he was just five or six years old. He built and flew model airplanes as a child.

When he turned 16, Armstrong earned his student flight certificate and flew on his own before he could drive. He later attended Blume High School in Wapakoneta. In 1947, at age 17, he began studying aeronautical engineering at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. His education included time in the U.S. Navy as part of his training program.

Naval service

Neil Armstrong joined the Navy in 1949 and began flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida. He became a midshipman and learned to fly using a North American SNJ trainer. In 1950, he earned the title of naval aviator.

Armstrong served on the aircraft carrier USS Cabot and later joined VF-51, an all-jet squadron. He flew missions during the Korean War and flew a total of 78 missions over Korea. After the war, he continued to fly with the Navy Reserve until 1960.

College years

After serving in the Navy, Neil Armstrong returned to Purdue University. He studied hard and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1955. He joined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, took part in student musicals, and led the Purdue Aero Flying Club.

Later, Armstrong finished a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Southern California in 1970. He married Janet Elizabeth Shearon in 1956, and they had three children.

Test pilot

After finishing school, Neil Armstrong became a test pilot. He first flew for research on March 1, 1955. He then went to a special flight station to test many different airplanes.

Armstrong flew more than 200 kinds of aircraft. He was one of only eight pilots to work on a special paraglider project. His work included flying very fast planes and some rocket-powered aircraft. He showed great skill and knowledge of airplanes.

Astronaut career

In June 1958, Armstrong joined the U.S. Air Force's Man in Space Soonest program, but it was canceled and replaced by Project Mercury, a civilian project led by NASA. At that time, only military test pilots could become astronauts, so Armstrong could not join as a NASA civilian test pilot. In November 1960, he became a pilot consultant for the X-20 Dyna-Soar, a military space plane that was being developed.

In April 1962, NASA asked for applications for astronauts for Project Gemini, a two-person spacecraft. Armstrong applied and was chosen by NASA in September 1962 as part of the second group of astronauts, called the New Nine.

Gemini program

Armstrong and Elliot See were selected as the backup crew for Gemini 5, which practiced space rendezvous and tested procedures for a seven-day flight. Gemini 5 launched in August 1965 and was successful, even though there was a problem with the fuel cells.

Armstrong became the first American civilian in space during the Gemini 8 mission in March 1966. The mission aimed to connect with an uncrewed Agena target vehicle and include the first American spacewalk. During the mission, the spacecraft started spinning out of control, and Armstrong used the Reentry Control System to steady it, which led to an early end to the mission.

In his last Gemini mission, Armstrong was the backup Command Pilot for Gemini 11.

Apollo program

On January 27, 1967, the day of the Apollo 1 fire, Armstrong was in Washington, D.C. with other astronauts.

Armstrong was the backup commander for Apollo 8. On May 6, 1968, while training in a Lunar Landing Research Vehicle, Armstrong ejected safely just before the vehicle crashed.

Apollo 11

Armstrong was named commander of Apollo 11 on December 23, 1968. The mission launched on July 16, 1969. On July 20, 1969, Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon. Armstrong was the first person to step onto the lunar surface, saying, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

After exploring the Moon, the crew returned to Earth and landed in the Pacific Ocean. The astronauts were honored with parades and celebrations around the world.

Life after Apollo

After Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong decided not to fly in space again. He left NASA in 1971 and began teaching aerospace engineering at the University of Cincinnati. There, he taught many classes and created new courses.

Armstrong also took part in important space investigations. He helped review the Apollo 13 mission and later joined the Rogers Commission to examine the Space Shuttle Challenger. He also worked on plans for future space travel. In addition to his teaching and investigations, Armstrong served on the boards of several companies. Despite his fame, Armstrong preferred a quiet life and rarely gave interviews or public appearances.

Personal life

Neil Armstrong was asked by both the Democratic and Republican parties to run for office, but he said no. He believed in states' rights and didn’t want the U.S. to be like the "world's policeman".

Armstrong loved flying small planes, especially gliders. Before his moon landing, he earned a gold badge from the International Gliding Commission.

He married his first wife, Janet, in 1956. They separated in 1990 and divorced in 1994. Later, he married Carol Held Knight in 1994, and they lived in Indian Hill, Ohio.

Illness and death

Neil Armstrong had surgery in August 2012 to help his heart. He seemed to be getting better, but then he got sick and passed away that same month. Leaders and other astronauts honored him for his big achievements in space.

His family had a private tribute for him and asked people to remember him by being helpful, doing great things, and staying humble.

Legacy

See also: Statue of Neil Armstrong (Los Angeles)

When Pete Conrad of Apollo 12 walked on the Moon, he honored Armstrong with his first words there.

Armstrong won many awards for his work, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. He joined important groups like the National Academy of Engineering and the American Philosophical Society.

Many places are named after Armstrong. Schools, streets, and buildings carry his name, including the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in his hometown of Wapakoneta. In 2014, NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center was renamed the NASA Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center. In 2012, the U.S. Navy named a research ship RV Neil Armstrong after him. His biography, First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong, was published in 2005 and later became a film.