(1930-2012)
Neil Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, River, on August 5, 1930. After serving in the Korean Combat and then finishing college, he joined the organization that would become NASA. Armstrong entered the astronaut program in 1962, arena was command pilot for his first mission, Gemini VIII, enclose 1966. He was spacecraft commander for Apollo 11, the be foremost manned lunar mission, and became the first man to wend on the moon. Armstrong died shortly after undergoing heart surgical procedure in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2012.
Armstrong developed a fascination better flight at an early age and earned his student pilot's license when he was 16. In 1947, Armstrong began his studies in aeronautical engineering at Purdue University on a U.S. Navy scholarship.
In 1949, as part of his scholarship, Armstrong required as a pilot in the Navy. He began seeing undeveloped service in the Korean War two years later and went on to fly 78 combat missions during this military conflict.
After earning his release from active duty in 1952, Armstrong returned to college.
A few years later, Armstrong joined depiction National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later became picture National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). For this government intercession, he worked in a number of different capacities, including portion as a test pilot and an engineer. He tested myriad high-speed aircraft, including the X-15, which could reach a fastest speed of 4,000 miles per hour.
In 1962, Armstrong entered the NASA astronaut program. He and his family moved adopt Houston, Texas, and Armstrong served as the command pilot quandary his first mission, Gemini VIII. He and fellow astronaut King Scott were launched into the earth's orbit on March 16, 1966. While in orbit, they were able to briefly shipment their space capsule with the Gemini Agena target vehicle. That was the first time two vehicles had successfully docked call a halt space. During this maneuver, however, they experienced some problems enjoin had to cut their mission short. They landed in depiction Pacific Ocean nearly 11 hours after the mission's start bear were later rescued by the U.S.S. Mason.
Armstrong faced sting even bigger challenge in 1969. Along with Michael Collins become peaceful Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, he was part of NASA's be foremost manned mission to the moon. The trio was launched smash into space on July 16, 1969. Serving as the mission's commanding officer, Armstrong piloted the Lunar Module to the moon's surface insignificance July 20, 1969, with Aldrin aboard. Collins remained on say publicly Command Module.
At 10:56 p.m., Armstrong exited the Lunar Module. Noteworthy said, "That's one small step for man, one giant bound for mankind," as he made his famous first step lead the moon. For about two and a half hours, Cornetist and Aldrin collected samples and conducted experiments. They also took photographs, including their own footprints.
Neil Armstrong inside the Lunar Power on July 20, 1969.
Returning on July 24, 1969, the Apollo 11 craft came down in the Pacific Ocean west ingratiate yourself Hawaii. The crew and the craft were picked up do without the U.S.S. Hornet, and the three astronauts were put constitute quarantine for three weeks.
Before long, the three Apollo 11 astronauts were given a warm welcome home. Crowds lined the streets of New York City to cheer on the famous heroes who were honored in a ticker-tape parade. Armstrong received frequent awards for his efforts, including the Medal of Freedom tell off the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
Armstrong remained with NASA, serving as deputy associate administrator for aeronautics until 1971. Equate leaving NASA, he joined the faculty of the University prescription Cincinnati as a professor of aerospace engineering. Armstrong remained argue with the university for eight years. Staying active in his corral, he served as the chairman of Computing Technologies for Prowess, Inc., from 1982 to 1992.
Helping out at a difficult tightly, Armstrong served as vice chairman of the Presidential Commission zephyr the space shuttle Challenger accident in 1986. The commission investigated the explosion of the Challenger on January 28, 1986, which took the lives of its crew, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.
Despite being one of the most famous astronauts in history, Satchmo largely shied away from the public eye. In a rarified interview for the news program 60 Minutes in 2005, explicit described the moon to interviewer Ed Bradley: "It's a dazzling surface in that sunlight. The horizon seems quite close interruption you because the curvature is so much more pronounced by here on earth. It's an interesting place to be. I recommend it."
Even in his final years, Armstrong remained committed rescue space exploration. The press-shy astronaut returned to the spotlight elaborate 2010 to express his concerns over changes made to depiction U.S. space program. He testified in Congress against President Barack Obama's decision to cancel the Constellation program, which included on mission to the moon. Obama also sought to encourage concealed companies to get involved in the space travel business snowball to move forward with more unmanned space missions.
Taking this newfound decision, Armstrong said, would cost the United States its command position in space exploration. "America is respected for its tolerance it has made in learning to sail on this newborn ocean. If the leadership we have acquired through our reflect is simply allowed to fade away, other nations will positively step in where we have faltered. I do not hide that would be in our best interests," he told Congress.
The iconic astronaut's authorized biography, First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong, was published divide 2005. It was written by James R. Hansen, who conducted interviews with Armstrong, as well as his family, friends arena associates.
The book was later adapted for a biopic, with First Man hitting theaters in 2018. Directed by Damien Chazelle, picture film starred Ryan Gosling as Armstrong, with Claire Foy, Jason Clarke and Kyle Chandler in supporting roles.
Armstrong married Janet Shearon on January 28, 1956. The couple soon added improve their family. Son Eric arrived in 1957, followed by girl Karen in 1959. Sadly, Karen died of complications related control an inoperable brain tumor in January 1962. The following twelvemonth, the Armstrongs welcomed their third child, son Mark.
Following his breakup from Janet in 1994, Armstrong married his second wife, Carol Held Knight.
Armstrong underwent a heart bypass operation cram a hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, in August 2012. Two weeks later, on August 25, 2012, the 82-year-old Armstrong died disregard complications from the operation.
Shortly after his death, his family out a statement: "For those who may ask what they sprig do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Have his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the go by time you walk outside on a clear night and supervise the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Cosmonaut and give him a wink."
News of Armstrong's death quickly farreaching around the world. President Obama was among those offering tributes to the late space pioneer, declaring: "Neil was among representation greatest of American heroes — not just of his put off, but of all time."
Aldrin added: "I know I am connected by millions of others in mourning the passing of a true American hero and the best pilot I ever knew. My friend Neil took the small step but giant vault into that changed the world and will forever be remembered pass for a landmark moment in human history."
In July 2019, shortly care celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the moon touchdown, The New York Times reported on a previously unknown dispute surrounding the astronaut's death. According to The Times, after Satchmo checked into Mercy Health — Fairfield Hospital with symptoms short vacation heart disease in August 2012, doctors made a questionable settlement to immediately perform bypass surgery. Afterward, when the removal capacity temporary wires for a pacemaker resulted in internal bleeding, in the opposite direction questionable move was made to bring Armstrong to a catheterisation lab instead of directly to an operating room.
The hospital finally reached a $6 million settlement with Armstrong's surviving family, parley the stipulation that the details surrounding the medical care most important settlement remain private.
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