The first human to walk on the surface of another world is dead.
American Neil Armstrong, who stepped on to the surface of the moon on July 21, 1969, died of complications following bypass surgery. He was 82 years old.
As long as humans write history, the name Neil Armstrong and his deeds will be mentioned. Thousands of years from now, when the entire history of the 20th century will be encapsulated in a few sentences, Armstrong’s name and his epic voyage will enjoy a prominence that wars, technological accomplishments, towering personalities, and seminal discoveries in science won’t have.
His family reported the death at 2:45 p.m. ET. A statement said he died following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures.
Armstrong commanded the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, and he radioed back to Earth the historic news: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
He spent nearly three hours walking on the moon with fellow astronaut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin.
Armstrong and his wife, Carol, married in 1999, made their home in the Cincinnati suburb of Indian Hill, but he had largely stayed out of public view in recent years. His birthday was Aug. 5.
From the Navy Hymn “Eternal Father”:
Eternal Father, lend Thy grace To
those with wings who fly thro’ space,
Thro wind and storm, thro’ sun and rain,
Oh bring them safely home again
Rest in peace.
RIP Neil.
It was a glorious mission, and we are so sad today to realize we have to go BACKWARDS over 40 years in time, to recall it. May be honor his memory some day and move forwards again.
He led at the tip of the spear of an American effort to reach the moon. A great nation was behind him.
“That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Godspeed Neil.
A Giant Walked The Moon http://bit.ly/SBNp2a
One less hero. RIP Neil.
From another forum I frequent on the ‘net:
First poster: “He deserves a state funeral. He was a national hero.”
Second poster: “Actually, he was an international hero.”
Third poster: “Come to think of it, he was more than that!”
…not a good week for the Armstrongs, thought… (Sorry about that.)
It would be a major injustice if the next planet discovred, major crater, manned Mars mission, space station, etc., is not named after him.
In fact I think a fitting tribute would be to name the earthlike planets now being discovered the “Apollos” or “Armstrongs” after him, since the whole point of looking for them is to see if life exists on other worlds.
You don’t think they want to name them “Obama”?
I remember the Moon landing well.
I was a teenager and it was summer vacation. I watched it live on CBS-TV; Walter Cronkite was giving the news with the late astronaut Walter Schirra as his technical adviser.
Most Americans were genuinely proud. America had met President Kennedy’s goal–successfully.
A true hero
Sad to think he left seeing a nation that has to rent space on Soviet spacecraft to get into space.
Some 5 years after his landing on the moon I had the privilege to meet the man. After many, many years I listened closely to the landing events from the tapes of the mission. Putting all the ‘pictures’ together I came away with the impression that Neil Armstrong had the right stuff to accomplish a mission teetering on the edge of failure. I can’t put my finger on what characteristic about the man most impressed me… but looking back at all the ‘pictures’ whatever ‘right stuff’ a person needed in those tense moments during lunar descent Neil Armstrong had plenty of ‘it.’ He was the right man at the right time.
Sympathies to the family, and God’s Speed Neil.
I grew up during the space race. Neil epitomized the spirit of science and adventure. Godspeed.