Neil Armstrong
Before
Neil Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, on August 5, 1930. Niel Developed a love for flight at a young age and earned his student pilot license at age 16. Armstrong later began his studies in aeronautical engineering at Purdue University on a U.S. Navy scholarship. However his studies were interrupted when he was called to serve in the Korean War. After his service, which included 78 combat missions, Neil went back to his studies. After that Armstrong joined a committee called the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later on became the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Neil worked as a test pilot and engineer for the NACA. Meanwhile Neil was starting to focus on a family. Neil married Janet Shearon on January 28, 1956, soon after they had their first child Eric in 1957. Neil’s daughter Karen was born in 1959 but sadly died of a brain tumor in 1962. In that same year they had their son Mark.
Gemini VIII
In 1962 Armstrong joined the astronaut program. Armstrong served as a command pilot for a project called Gemini VIII. He and fellow astronaut, David Scott, were launched into space on March 16, 1966. While in orbit, they were able to briefly dock their space capsule with the Gemini Agena target vehicle. This was the first time two vehicles had successfully docked in space. However due to complications the trip had to be cut short. Armstrong and his crew landed in the Pacific Ocean just 11 hours after the start of their flight.
Apollo Moon Landings
In 1969 Armstrong was faced with a challenge like none other. Armstrong, and fellow colleagues Michael Collins and Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, were to be part of NASA’s first manned mission to the moon. The group, with Neil as commander, launched into space on July 16, 1969. Neil and fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon ,while Collins stayed in the command module, on July 20, 1969. At 10:56 P.M. Armstrong stepped out of the Lunar Module and said his famous word “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. Armstrong and Aldrin were on the moon for about two and a half hours, where they collected material, took photos, and did experiments.
After Apollo
After Apollo, Armstrong tried to stay away from the public. In 2010 Armstrong spoke out to Congress against President Obama’s plan to cancel the Constellation program. Armstrong underwent a heart bypass operation in August 2012. A few weeks later, on August 25, 2012, Neil Armstrong died of "complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures" at the age of 82.
Citations
Images:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Neil_Armstrong_pose.jpg/220px-Neil_Armstrong_pose.jpg>
http://images.freshnessmag.com/wp-content/uploads//2012/08/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-the-moon-apollo-11-02.jpg>
http://images.freshnessmag.com/wp-content/uploads//2012/08/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-the-moon-apollo-11-02.jpg>
Facts
http://www.biography.com/people/neil-armstrong-9188943
http://www.seattlepi.com/entertainment/tv/tvguide/article/Did-Neil-Armstrong-Lie-About-His-Moon-Landing-4161232.php
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/neil-armstrong-small-step-words-moon-apollo-11/story?id=18115402
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Neil_Armstrong_pose.jpg/220px-Neil_Armstrong_pose.jpg>
http://images.freshnessmag.com/wp-content/uploads//2012/08/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-the-moon-apollo-11-02.jpg>
http://images.freshnessmag.com/wp-content/uploads//2012/08/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-the-moon-apollo-11-02.jpg>
Facts
http://www.biography.com/people/neil-armstrong-9188943
http://www.seattlepi.com/entertainment/tv/tvguide/article/Did-Neil-Armstrong-Lie-About-His-Moon-Landing-4161232.php
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/neil-armstrong-small-step-words-moon-apollo-11/story?id=18115402