A True American Hero

As an admitted and unashamed space nerd, I was deeply saddened by last Saturday's news of the death of Neil Armstrong.  In a society where "heros" do nothing more than look pretty on tv, this man truely deserves the title "American Hero!"  He served in the U.S. Navy, was a test pilot for NASA, a professor and lifelong teacher, but most people know his as the first man to set foot on the moon.  He so famously uttered the words "that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."  July 20, 1969 is a day that few will forget.  Below is a very brief biography of this great man:

Neil Alden Armstrong, was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, on August 5, 1930.

He began his flight career as a Naval Aviator in 1949.  He later became a test pilot for NASA's Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California, where he was a pilot of many pioneering high speed aircraft, including the 4000-mph X-15. He flew over 200 different models of aircraft, including jets, rockets, helicopters and gliders.

Armstrong transferred to the Astronaut Corps in 1962. He was assigned as Pilot for the Gemini 8 mission. Gemini 8 was launched on March 16, 1966, and Armstrong performed the first successful docking of two vehicles in space.

As Commander for Apollo 11, Armstrong was the first person to set foot on the moon.

He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue University and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California.  He was Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati between 1971-1979.

 

Armstrong passed away on Aug. 25, 2012 following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. He was 82.