Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong was an American astronaut and the first person to walk on the moon. He commanded the Apollo 11 mission and made the historic first step in 1969.
Early Life and Education
Armstrong was born in 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He was interested in the aviation from an early age and took his first flying lesson at fifteen.
He studied aeronautical engineering at Purdue University on a naval scholarship. He flew combat missions in Korea as a naval aviator.
He became a test pilot for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, which later became NASA. He flew the X-15 rocket plane.
The Gemini and Apollo Programmes
Armstrong was selected as an astronaut in 1962. He commanded the Gemini 8 mission in 1966 and performed the first docking of two spacecraft.
He was the commander of the Apollo 11 mission. The mission was launched on 16 July 1969 with the crew of Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin.
The lunar module Eagle landed on the moon on 20 July 1969. Armstrong reported the landing with the words the Eagle has landed.
He stepped onto the lunar surface and spoke the famous words about the small step and the giant leap. He and Aldrin spent about two and a half hours on the surface.
The Return and the Later Career
The crew returned to the earth on 24 July 1969 and were quarantined for three weeks. The mission was a success and achieved the goal set by President Kennedy.
Armstrong received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. He was awarded the honours from many countries.
He served as the deputy associate administrator for aeronautics at NASA. He left the agency in 1971 and taught at the University of Cincinnati.
He served on the commissions that investigated the Apollo 13 and the Challenger accidents. He was a spokesman for the business and the industry.
The Legacy
Armstrong is remembered as the first person to walk on the moon. The words that he spoke are among the most famous of the twentieth century.
He was a private man and avoided the publicity. He gave few interviews and rarely spoke of his achievement.
He died in 2012 in Cincinnati. The memorials and the institutions are named in his honour.
The lunar landing is regarded as one of the greatest achievements of the human history. The mission remains an inspiration for the exploration of space.
The Test Pilot Career
Armstrong became a test pilot for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. He flew more than nine hundred flights in the various aircraft.
He flew the X-15 rocket plane and reached the edge of the space. The experience prepared him for the spaceflight.
He was selected as an astronaut in 1962. He commanded the Gemini 8 mission and performed the first docking of two spacecraft.
The Apollo 11 Mission
Armstrong commanded the Apollo 11 mission with the crew of Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin. The mission was launched on 16 July 1969.
The lunar module landed on the moon on 20 July 1969. Armstrong manually piloted the craft to avoid the boulder field.
He stepped onto the lunar surface and spoke the famous words. He and Aldrin spent about two and a half hours on the surface.
The Return and the Later Career
The crew returned to the earth on 24 July 1969. They were quarantined for three weeks after the mission.
Armstrong received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. He was awarded the honours from many countries.
He served as the deputy associate administrator for aeronautics at NASA. He left the agency in 1971 and taught at the University of Cincinnati.
The Legacy and the Memory
Armstrong is remembered as the first person to walk on the moon. The words that he spoke are among the most famous of the century.
He served on the commissions that investigated the Apollo 13 and the Challenger accidents. He was a private man and avoided the publicity.
He died in 2012 in Cincinnati. The lunar landing remains an inspiration for the space exploration.
The Early Career
Armstrong flew combat missions in Korea as a naval aviator. He was shot down once and escaped.
He became a test pilot for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. He flew the X-15 rocket plane and the other experimental aircraft.
He was selected as an astronaut in 1962. He commanded the Gemini 8 mission and performed the first docking of two spacecraft.
The Personal Life
Armstrong married Janet Shearon in 1956 and the couple had three children. Their daughter Karen died at the age of two.
He was a private man and avoided the publicity. He gave few interviews and rarely spoke of his achievement.
He died in 2012 in Cincinnati. The memorials and the institutions are named in his honour.
See also
- Apollo 11
- Moon landing
- Space exploration
- Gemini programme
References
- ↑ Hansen, James R. First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2005.
- ↑ Aldrin, Buzz. Magnificent Desolation. New York: Harmony Books, 2009.
- ↑ Chaikin, Andrew. A Man on the Moon. New York: Viking, 1994.
- ↑ Kranz, Gene. Failure Is Not an Option. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2000.