Tag Archives: Neil Alden Armstrong

Neil Alden Armstrong (5 August 1930–25 August 2012)

August 5, 2023Aviation, Space FlightAeronautical Engineer, Apollo Program, Astronaut, Fighter Pilot, Gemini Program, Lunar Landing, Manned Space Flight, Moon Shot, NASA, Naval Aviator, Neil A. Armstrong, Neil Alden Armstrong, Neil Armstrong, Professor, Purdue University, Test Pilot, X-15 ProgramBryan Swopes

ARMSTRONG, Neil Alden, NASA Astronaut — Neil Alden Armstrong, Astronaut, The First Human to Set Foot on the Surface of The Moon. (NASA)

The following is the official NASA biography from the John H. Glenn Research Center:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
John H. Glenn Research Center
Lewis Field
Cleveland, Ohio 44135

Neil A. Armstrong

Neil A. Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, on August 5, 1930. He began his NASA career in Ohio.

After serving as a naval aviator from 1949 to 1952, Armstrong joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in 1955. His first assignment was with the NACA Lewis Research Center (now NASA Glenn) in Cleveland. Over the next 17 years, he was an engineer, test pilot, astronaut and administrator for NACA and its successor agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

As a research pilot at NASA’s Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif., he was a project pilot on many pioneering high speed aircraft, including the well known, 4000-mph X-15. He has flown over 200 different models of aircraft, including jets, rockets, helicopters and gliders.

Armstrong transferred to astronaut status in 1962. He was assigned as command 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 spacecraft commander for Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing mission, Armstrong gained the distinction of being the first man to land a craft on the moon and first to step on its surface.

Armstrong subsequently held the position of Deputy Associate Administrator for Aeronautics, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. In this position, he was responsible for the coordination and management of overall NASA research and technology work related to aeronautics.

He was Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati between 1971-1979. During the years 1982-1992, Armstrong was chairman of Computing Technologies for Aviation, Inc., Charlottesville, Va.

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 holds honorary doctorates from a number of universities.

Armstrong is a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the Royal Aeronautical Society; Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the International Astronautics Federation.

He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco. He served as a member of the National Commission on Space (1985-1986), as Vice-Chairman of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident (1986), and as Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Peace Corps (1971-1973).

Armstrong has been decorated by 17 countries. He is the recipient of many special honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom; the Congressional Space Medal of Honor; the Explorers Club Medal; the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy; the NASA Distinguished Service Medal; the Harmon International Aviation Trophy; the Royal Geographic Society’s Gold Medal; the Federation Aeronautique Internationale’s Gold Space Medal; the American Astronautical Society Flight Achievement Award; the Robert J. Collier Trophy; the AIAA Astronautics Award; the Octave Chanute Award; and the John J. Montgomery Award.

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

August 2012

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/bios/neilabio.html

Armstrong, Neil Alden, Ensign, United States Naval Reserve, 505129/1315, 23 May 1952. (United States Navy, Naval History and Heritage Command 80-G-679736) — Ensign Neil A. Armstrong, United States Naval Reserve, 23 May 1952. (U.S. Navy)

Ensign Neil Alden Armstrong, United States Navy, circa 1951. (U.S. Navy)

Ensign Neil A. Armstrong, as wingman to Lieutenant (j.g.) Ernie Moore, is flying the second Grumman F9F-2 Panther, Bu. No. 125122 (marked S 116), assigned to VF-51, USS Essex (CV-9), 1951. (Naval Aviation Museum) — Ensign Neil A. Armstrong, as wingman to Lieutenant (j.g.) Ernie Moore, is flying the second Grumman F9F-2 Panther, Bu. No. 125127 (marked S 116), assigned to VF-51, *USS Essex* (CV-9), 1951. (Naval Aviation Museum)

3 September 1951, Ensign neil Armstrong was flying his Grumman F9F-2 Panther, Bu. No., 125122, escorting a photo reconnaissance aircraft over Koreawhen his airplane was damaged by enemy ground fire. At low altitude, he struck and anti-aircraft cable whoich further damaged the fighter and made it impossible to land. Armstrong was abl eto reach friendly territory and ejected safely. This photograph was taken a short time later. (U.S. Navy) — 3 September 1951, Ensign Neil A. Armstrong was flying his Grumman F9F-2 Panther, Bu. No., 125122, escorting a photo reconnaissance aircraft over Korea when his airplane was damaged by enemy ground fire. At low altitude, he struck an anti-aircraft cable which further damaged the fighter and made it impossible to land. Armstrong was able to reach friendly territory and ejected safely. This photograph was taken a short time later. (U.S. Navy)

NASA Engineering Test Pilot Neil A. Armstrong, 1958. (NASA)

NASA test pilot Neil A. Armstrong dons a pressure suit before his first flight in teh North American Aviation X-15 hypersonic research rocketplane, at Edwards AFB, 30 November 1960. (NASA) — NASA test pilot Neil A. Armstrong dons a David Clark Co. MC-2 full-pressure suit before his first flight in the North American Aviation X-15 hypersonic research rocketplane, at Edwards AFB, 30 November 1960. (NASA)

Neil Armstrong with the first North American Aviation X-15A, 56-6670, on Rogers Dry Lake after a flight, 1960. (NASA) — Neil Armstrong with the first North American Aviation X-15A, 56-6670, on Rogers Dry Lake after a flight, 1960. Armstrong made seven flights in the X-15, including the longest, “Neil’s Cross Country”. (NASA)

NASA Research Test Pilot Neail A. Armstrong with teh Bell X-14 at NASA Ames Research Center, February 1964. (NASA) — NASA Research Test Pilot Neil A. Armstrong with the Bell X-14 at NASA Ames Research Center, February 1964. (NASA via Jet Pilot Overseas)

Neil A. Armstrong during a training exercise near Cimmaron, new Mexico, June 1964. (NASA via Jet Pilot Overseas) — NASA Project Gemini astronaut Neil A. Armstrong during a field training exercise near Cimarron, New Mexico, June 1964. (NASA via Jet Pilot Overseas)

Astronauts David R. Scott, Pilot (left) and Neil A. Armstrong, Command Pilot (right) with U.S. Air Force pararescue jumpers at the end of the nearly disastrous Gemini 8 mission, 17 March 1966. (NASA)

NASA Project Apollo Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong with a Bell Aerosystems Lunar Landing Research Vehicle, 1969. (Ralph Morse/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Neil Alden Armstrong, Mission Commander, Apollo 11, 16 july 1969. (NASA) — Neil Alden Armstrong, Mission Commander, Apollo 11, 16 July 1969. (NASA)

Neil Armstrong steps onto the Moon, 10:56 p.m. EDT, 20 July 1969. (NASA)

Neil Alden Armstrong inside the Lunar Module on the surface of the Moon, 20 July 1969. (NASA) — Neil Alden Armstrong inside the Lunar Module *Eagle* on the surface of The Moon, 20 July 1969. (Edwin E. Aldrin, NASA)

Professor Neil A. Armstrong in his classroom at the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering, 1974. (Peggy Palange, UC Public Information Office)

A bronze statue of Neil Alden Armstrong in front of the Hall of Engineering. — An 8-foot tall bronze statue of Neil Alden Armstrong, sculpted by Chas Fagan, sits in front of the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.

21 July 1969, 17:54:00 UTC, T + 124:22:00.79

July 21, 2023Space FlightApollo 11, Apollo Program, Ascent Stage, Astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, Columbia, Command and Service Module, CSM-107, Eagle, Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr, LM-5, Lunar Landing, Lunar Module, Manned Space Flight, Michael Collins, Moon Landing, Moon Shot, NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Neil Alden ArmstrongBryan Swopes

Apollo 11 LM Eagle Ascent Stage approaching CSM Columbia in Lunar Orbit, 21 July 1969. (Michael Collins/National Aeronautics and Space Administration AS11-44-6642) — The Ascent Stage of the Lunar Module *Eagle* (LM-5) approaches the Command/Service Module *Columbia* in Lunar Orbit, approximately 2130 UTC, 21 July 1969. (Michael Collins, NASA)

21 July 1969: After spending a total of 21 hours, 36 minutes, 21 seconds on the surface of The Moon, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin fired the rocket engine of the Lunar Module’s Ascent Stage. The liftoff was at 17:54 UTC.

Three hours and forty minutes later, the Eagle ascent stage docked with Columbia, the Command/Service Module, in lunar orbit.

Apollo 11 Command and Service Module Columbia (CSM-107) in Lunar Orbit — The Apollo 11 Command and Service Module, *Columbia* (CSM-107), in Lunar Orbit, as seen from the Lunar Module, *Eagle*. (NASA)

21 July 1969

July 21, 2023Space FlightApollo 11, Apollo Program, Astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr, Lunar Landing, Manned Space Flight, Mare Tranquillitatis, Moon Landing, Moon Shot, NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Neil Alden ArmstrongBryan Swopes

21 July 1969: Edwin Eugene Aldrin, Jr. on the surface of The Moon in a photograph taken by Neil Alden Armstrong.

The reflection of the Lunar Module Eagle and of Armstrong can be seen in Aldrin’s face plate.

Aldrin, Edwin Eugene ("Buzz"), Jr., with the flag of the United States of America on the surface of The Moon, 21 July 1969. (Neil Alden Armstrong, National Aeronautics and Space Administration AS11-40-5876) — Buzz Aldrin and the flag of the United States of America on the surface of The Moon, 21 July 1969. (Neil Armstong/NASA)

“We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard. . . .”

—President John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Buzz Aldrin in the Lunar Module Eagle after the EVA, 21 July 1969. (Neil Armstrong, NASA) — Buzz Aldrin in the Lunar Module *Eagle* after the EVA, 21 July 1969. (Neil Armstrong, NASA)

21 July 1969, 02:56:15 UTC, T + 109:24:15

July 21, 2023Space FlightApollo 11, Apollo Program, Astronaut, Eagle, First Step, LM-5, Lunar Landing, Lunar Module, Manned Space Flight, Moon Landing, Moon Shot, NASA, Neil A. Armstrong, Neil Alden Armstrong, Neil ArmstrongBryan Swopes

Apollo 11 Lunar Module, with Neil Armstrong, first step, 0256 UTC 21 July 1969 — Neil Armstrong steps onto the Moon, 10:56:15 p.m. EDT, 20 July 1969. (NASA)

10:56:15 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Sunday, 20 July 1969 (02:56:15, 21 July 1969 UTC): 109 hours, 24 minutes, 15 seconds after the Apollo 11/Saturn V was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, NASA Astronaut Neil Alden Armstrong set foot on the surface of the Moon.

“That’s one small step for a man. . . one giant leap for mankind.”

This was the most significant event in the history of mankind.

Neil Alden Armstrong inside the Lunar Module on the surface of the Moon, 20 July 1969 — Neil Alden Armstrong inside the Lunar Module *Eagle* on the surface of the Moon, 21 July 1969. (Edwin E. Aldrin/NASA)

20 July 1969, 20:17:39 UTC, T + 102:45:39.9

July 20, 2023Space FlightApollo 11, Buzz Aldrin, Eagle, Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr, LM-5, Lunar Landing, Manned Space Flight, Mare Tranquillitatis, Moon Shot, NASA, Neil Alden Armstrong, Tranquility BaseBryan Swopes

Apollo 11 Lunar Module Eagle shortly after separation from the Command and Service Module, in orbit around the Moon, 20 July 1969. (Michael Collins/National Aeronautics and Space Administration AS11-44-6598) — Apollo 11 LM -5, *Eagle*, just after separation from the Command/Service Module in Lunar Orbit, 20 July 1969. (Michael Collins/NASA)

102:45:25 Aldrin: Four forward. Four forward. Drifting to the right a little. Twenty feet, down a half.

102:45:31 Duke: Thirty seconds (until the ‘Bingo’ call).

102:45:32 Aldrin: Drifting forward just a little bit; that’s good.

(Pause)

102:45:40 Aldrin: Contact Light.

102:45:43 Armstrong: Shutdown.

102:45:44 Aldrin: Okay. Engine Stop.

102:45:45 Aldrin: ACA out of Detent.

102:45:46 Armstrong: Out of Detent. Auto.

102:45:47 Aldrin: Mode Control, both Auto. Descent Engine Command Override, Off. Engine Arm, Off. Four-thirteen is in.

102:45:57 Duke: We copy you down, Eagle.

102:45:58 Armstrong: Engine arm is off. (Pause) Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.

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