Armstrong remained with NASA, serving as deputy associate administrator for aeronautics until Armstrong remained at the university for eight years. Staying active in his field, he served as the chairman of Computing Technologies for Aviation, Inc.
Helping out at a difficult time, Armstrong served as vice chairman of the Presidential Commission on the space shuttle Challenger accident in The commission investigated the explosion of the Challenger on January 28, , which took the lives of its crew, including school teacher Christa McAuliffe. Despite being one of the most famous astronauts in history, Armstrong largely shied away from the public eye. He gave a rare interview to the news program 60 Minutes in The horizon seems quite close to you because the curvature is so much more pronounced than here on earth.
I recommend it. Armstrong was written by James R. Hansen, who conducted interviews with Armstrong, his family, and his friends and associates. Even in his final years, Armstrong remained committed to space exploration. The press-shy astronaut returned to the spotlight in to express his concerns over changes made to the U. Obama also sought to encourage private companies to get involved in the space travel business and to move forward with more unmanned space missions.
However, the two-man crew experienced a serious problem when a thruster on the Gemini 8 spacecraft became stuck open. With the astronauts whipping around faster than one revolution per second, Armstrong managed to gain control again by using the re-entry system thrusters. The event was the first serious emergency in space and although the mission ultimately ended safely, the spacecraft was forced to splash down early because the re-entry system was already expended.
Armstrong also narrowly avoided a nasty accident in May , this time within Earth's atmosphere , while flying the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle — a machine that could fly somewhat like a lunar module and simulate landings on the moon. Fuel for the attitude thrusters ran out and Armstrong was forced to eject just seconds before the vehicle crashed, NASA reported.
Armstrong escaped unharmed. The Apollo 11 crew members were announced to the public in January His responsibilities included landing on the moon alongside Aldrin, the pilot of the lunar module Eagle. Collins would remain in lunar orbit aboard the command module Columbia.
Collins was originally supposed to be backup pilot for Apollo 11, but his spot in the flight sequence was moved after required surgery on his back forced him off the prime crew for Apollo 8. As the lander approached the moon, Armstrong took over the controls when he saw that the computer was guiding them to a boulder-filled landing zone.
At p. Armstrong radioed, "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed. You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We're breathing again. Thanks a lot. The schedule called for the astronauts to sleep before the first moonwalk, but they elected to go outside early because they felt they would not be able to sleep. In view of a black-and-white television camera transmitting his movements live to Earth, Armstrong descended Eagle's lander and touched his left foot upon the surface at p.
His first words were "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind. If the leadership we have acquired through our investment is simply allowed to fade away, other nations will surely step in where we have faltered.
I do not believe that would be in our best interests," he told Congress. Armstrong , was published in It was written by James R. Hansen, who conducted interviews with Armstrong, as well as his family, friends and associates. The book was later adapted for a biopic, with First Man hitting theaters in Armstrong married Janet Shearon on January 28, The couple soon added to their family. Son Eric arrived in , followed by daughter Karen in Sadly, Karen died of complications related to an inoperable brain tumor in January The following year, the Armstrongs welcomed their third child, son Mark.
Armstrong underwent a heart bypass operation at a hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, in August Two weeks later, on August 25, , the year-old Armstrong died of complications from the operation. Shortly after his death, his family released a statement: "For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request.
Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink. News of Armstrong's death quickly spread around the world. President Obama was among those offering tributes to the late space pioneer, declaring: "Neil was among the greatest of American heroes — not just of his time, but of all time.
Aldrin added: "I know I am joined by millions of others in mourning the passing of a true American hero and the best pilot I ever knew. My friend Neil took the small step but giant leap that changed the world and will forever be remembered as a landmark moment in human history. In July , shortly after celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, The New York Times reported on a previously unknown controversy surrounding the astronaut's death.
According to The Times , after Armstrong checked into Mercy Health — Fairfield Hospital with symptoms of heart disease in August , doctors made a questionable decision to immediately perform bypass surgery. About six-and-a-half hours later, Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon.
As he took his first step, Armstrong It was a feat for the ages. Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. The son of a U. Air Force colonel, Aldrin became a top student at the U. Military Academy at West Point before a decorated stint as a fighter pilot American astronaut Michael Collins was part of the historic Apollo 11 mission, remaining in the command module as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon.
Since he stayed behind to pilot the command module as Aldrin and Armstrong made On July 20, , just eight years after President John F. Following the Apollo 11 historic July 20, , moonwalk, Aldrin and Neil Apollo 13 was the seventh manned mission in the Apollo Space program and was supposed to be the third lunar landing mission, but the three astronauts aboard never reached the moon.
Instead the crew and ground control team scrambled through a hair-raising George Armstrong Custer was a U. He gained further fame for his post-war exploits against Native Americans in the West. The non-stop campaign of testing and launches was also a race against time—specifically to honor slain president John F. Live TV. This Day In History. History Vault. Military Service Astronaut, military pilot, educator.
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