Have you ever dreamed of going to the moon? Neil Armstrong has concurred that dream. On July 20, 1969, he made history by becoming the first man to ever walk on the moon. This might be what he’s known for, but he can do so much more. Going to space only scratches the surface of what he is capable of accomplishing.
Neil was born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He had been interested in flight from a young age, and earned his student pilot licence when he was just 16. He studied in aeronautical engineering(, the primary field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft,) at Purdue University, in 1947. Unfortunately, his studies were interrupted when he was called to serve in the Korean war. He served as a U.S. Navy pilot and flew 78 combat missions during this time. After leaving the service, he returned to college. A few years later, Armstrong joined the National
…show more content…
They had a total of 3 children, one of which unfortunately died of a brain tumor when she was only 3. In 1966, he faced the challenge of being the command pilot for his first mission, Gemini VIII. They were launched into the earth's orbit for almost 11 hours. A few years later, in 1969, he would face an even bigger challenge. He, along with Michael Collins and Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, were a part of NASA’s first manned mission to the moon. They were launched into space on July 16, 1969. Armstrong piloted the Lunar Module to the moon's surface on July 20, 1969. At 10:56 PM, Armstrong exited the Lunar Module and said, as he took his first step, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." When he arrived back on earth, he was met with a cheering crowd and numerous awards for his efforts. Including the Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. He remained with NASA until 1971. He unfortunately died of heart problems in August of