Neil Alden Armstrong (1930–2012) was an American astronaut. He was the first person to set foot on the moon.
Born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, Armstrong was educated at Purdue University. A fighter pilot in Korea and later a civilian test pilot, he was chosen as a NASA astronaut in 1962. In 1966, Armstrong was the command pilot for the Gemini 8 orbital flight in 1966.
As commander of Apollo 11 mission, Armstrong led the first manned lunar landing mission with Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, becoming the first person to set foot on the moon (20-July-1969.) From the dusty surface of the moon, Armstrong uttered the famous declaration, “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind;” (in the thrill of the moment, Armstrong skipped the “a” in the announcement that he had planned.)
After Apollo 11, Armstrong shied away from being a public figure and confined himself to academic and professional endeavors. He taught aerospace engineering at Cincinnati University 1971–79, and served on the board of several American companies.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Neil Armstrong
It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn’t feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.
—Neil Armstrong
Topics: Space
I believe that the Good Lord gave us a finite number of heartbeats and I’m damned if I’m going to use up mine running up and down a street.
—Neil Armstrong
Topics: Exercise
Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man’s desire to understand.
—Neil Armstrong
Topics: Understanding, Wonder
Science has not yet mastered prophecy. We predict too much for the next year and yet far too little for the next 10.
—Neil Armstrong
Topics: Prophecy
We have no proof, but if we extrapolate, based on the best information we have available to us, we have to come to the conclusion that … other life probably exists out there and perhaps in many places…
—Neil Armstrong
Topics: Space
That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.
—Neil Armstrong
Topics: Dreams, Space
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