Page 46 - 201212 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - December 2012

The 1st Moonwalker - Neil Armstrong An ‘X’ Zone Tribute For Mark. away from the public eye. He gave a rare That same year, Armstrong joined the Neil Armstrong astronaut program. He and his family moved to interview to the news program 60 Minutes in 2006. He described the moon to interviewer Ed Houston, Texas, and Armstrong served as the Bradley, saying "It's a brilliant surface in that command pilot for his first mission, Gemini sunlight. The horizon seems quite close to you VIII. He and fellow astronaut David Scott were because the curvature is so much more launched into the earth's orbit on March 16, pronounced than here on earth. It's an 1966. While in orbit, they were able to briefly interesting place to be. I recommend it." That dock their space capsule with the Gemini Agena same year, his authorized biography came out. target vehicle. This was the first time two First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong was vehicles had successfully docked in space. written by James R. Hansen, who conducted During this maneuver, however, they interviews with Armstrong, his family, and his experienced some problems and had to cut their friends and associates. mission short. They landed in the Pacific Ocean Even in his final years, Armstrong nearly 11 hours after the mission's start, and remained committed to space exploration. The were later rescued by the U.S.S. Mason. press-shy astronaut returned to the spotlight in 2010 to express his concerns over changes made Moon Landing to the U.S. space program. He testified in Armstrong faced an even bigger Congress against President Barack Obama's Quick Facts challenge in 1969. Along with Michael Collins decision to cancel the Constellation program, and Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, he was part of which included another mission to the moon. NAME: Neil Armstrong NASA's first manned mission to the moon. The Obama also sought to encourage private OCCUPATION: Astronaut, Explorer, Pilot trio were launched into space on July 16, 1969. companies to get involved in the space travel BIRTH DATE: August 05, 1930 Serving as the mission's commander, Armstrong business and to move forward with more DEATH DATE: August 25, 2012 piloted the Lunar Module to the moon's surface unmanned space missions. EDUCATION: Purdue University, University on July 20, 1969, with Buzz Aldrin aboard. Taking this new decision, Armstrong of Cincinnati Collins remained on the Command Module. said, would cost the United States its leadership PLACE OF BIRTH: Wapakoneta, Ohio At 10:56 PM, Armstrong exited the position in space exploration. "America is Lunar Module. He said, "That's one small step respected for its contributions it has made in Synopsis for man, one giant leap for mankind," as he learning to sail on this new ocean. If the Neil Armstrong was born in made his famous first step on the moon. For leadership we have acquired through our Wapakoneta, Ohio, on August 5, 1930. After about two and a half hours, Armstrong and investment is simply allowed to fade away, serving in the Korean War and then finishing Aldrin collected samples and conducted other nations will surely step in where we have college, he joined the organization that would experiments. faltered. I do not believe that would be in our become NASA. He joined the astronaut They also took photographs, including best interests," he told Congress, according to a program in 1962 and was command pilot for his their own footprints. report on NewsHour. first mission, Gemini VIII, in 1966. He was Returning on July 24, 1969, the Apollo Armstrong underwent a heart bypass spacecraft commander for Apollo 11, the first 11 craft came down in the Pacific Ocean west of operation in August 2012. A few weeks later, on manned lunar mission, and the first man to walk Hawaii. The crew and the craft were picked up August 25, 2012, Neil Armstrong died of on the moon. He died in 2012. by the U.S.S. Hornet, and the three astronauts "complications resulting from cardiovascular were put into quarantine for three weeks. procedures" at the age of 82. He is survived by Military Service Beforelong, the three Apollo 11 his second wife Carol in Indian Hill, Ohio, and Astronaut Neil Armstrong developed a astronauts were given a warm welcome home. his two sons from his first marriage. fascination with flight at an early age and Crowds lined the streets of New York City to He and his first wife divorced in 1994. earned his student pilot's license when he was cheer on the famous heroes who were honored Shortly after his death, his family 16. In 1947, Armstrong began his studies in in a ticker-tape parade. Armstrong received released a statement: "For those who may ask aeronautical engineering at Purdue University numerous awards for his efforts, including the what they can do to honor Neil, we have a on a U.S. Navy scholarship. Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Space simple request. Honor his example of service, His studies, however, were interrupted Medal of Honor. accomplishment and modesty, and the next time in 1949 when he was called to serve in the you walk outside on a clear night and see the Korean War. A U.S. Navy pilot, Armstrong flew Later Contributions moon smiling down at you, think of Neil 78 combat missions during this military Armstrong remained with NASA, Armstrong and give him a wink." conflict. He left the service in 1952, and serving as deputy associate administrator for think of Neil Armstrong and give him a returned to college. A few years later, aeronautics until 1971. After leaving NASA, he wink." Armstrong joined the National Advisory joined the faculty of the University of News of Armstrong's death quickly Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which Cincinnati as a professor of aerospace spread around the world. President Obama was later became the National Aeronautics and engineering. Armstrong remained at the among those offering their condolences to his Space Administration (NASA). For this university for eight years. Staying active in his family and sharing their remembrances of the government agency he worked in a number of field, he served as the chairman of Computing late space pioneer. "Neil was among the greatest different capacities, including serving as a test Technologies for Aviation, Inc., from 1982 to of American heroes—not just of his time, but of pilot and an engineer. He tested many high- 1992. all time," Obama said, according to the Los speed aircraft, including the X-15, which could Helping out at a difficult time, Angeles Times. His Apollo 11 colleague Buzz reach a top speed of 4,000 miles per hour. Armstrong served as vice chairman of the Aldrin said that "I know I am joined by millions Presidential Commission on the space shuttle of others in mourning the passing of a true Astronaut Program Challenger accident in 1986. The commission American hero and the best pilot I ever knew. In his personal life, Armstrong started to investigated the explosion of the Challenger on My friend Neil took the small step but giant leap settle down. He married Janet Shearon on January 28, 1986, which took the lives of its that changed the world and will forever be January 28, 1956. The couple soon added to crew, including school teacher Christa remembered as a landmark moment in human their family. Son Eric arrived in 1957, followed McAuliffe. history," according to CBS News. [] daughter Karen in 1959. Sadly, Karen died of complications related to an inoperable brain Death & Legacy (5=5> &41 D*E ,:91 $-05: &(C%4:A %>:<1 tumor in January 1962. The following year, the Despite being one of the most famous www.xzonestore.com Armstrongs welcomed their third child, son astronauts in history, Armstrong largely shied