WE MOURN THE LOSS OF THE FIRST MAN ON THE MOON
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger Photographer: George Whylie Videographer: Maxine Nolan
This weekend has marked the loss of a true legend.
We will always remember those famous words: “That’s one small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.”
Neil Alden Armstrong was the voice behind the words. He had an intense passion for flying and his greatest accomplishment was fulfilling the dream of Americans in July 1969 on the Apollo 11 mission as he became the first man on the moon. Even though he was and will always be considered a hero, he humbled at taking the credit. It was no small feat to fly an X-15 rocket plane up to five times the speed of sound towards the edge of space.
Armstrong was born in Ohio and prior to being chosen for space exploration missions, he had served as a naval aviator in the Korean War, flying 78 missions and having an engineering degree from Purdue University.
On March 16, 1966, NASA chose Armstrong to become the first American to orbit the Earth, commanding a two-man Gemini VIII mission with his crew mate, David R. Scott. The team would be docking in space with another aircraft in order to pave the way for lunar exploration on the moon. Becoming a success at this first attempt was not a given and there were issues as the maneuvering thruster broke and the aircraft started spinning wildly. Armstrong remained calm and took control of the situation by using the second set of thrusters to land the spacecraft safely in the Pacific. He and Scott were commended for the way in which they handled the situation and he was chosen for the Apollo 9 (which became the Apollo 8) mission which then led ultimately to the greatest mission of all, Apollo 11. Ironically, in Armstrong’s eyes, the landing itself was more of a challenge than the actual walk on the moon. The walk was monumental, lasting two hours and twenty-one minutes for an astronaut that had conquered a lifetime goal. He took pictures that would be implanted across history books for years to come. The United States would be able to experience this unbelievable walk through the eyes of Neil Alden Armstrong.
Coming back home, how could life ever resume its normality? Armstrong was a quiet and reserved man and did his best to shy away from the spotlight. He served as NASA manager in Washington for a brief period of time. He taught aerospace engineering at the University of Cincinnati and served on various corporate boards. With his level of expertise, he was part of the panels appointed to investigate the Apollo 13 accident and the Challenger disaster.
Although he remained out of the limelight as best he could, he would appear at the White House for major milestone anniversaries of Apollo 11 and always encouraged the further development of space exploration. He also authorized a biography about his life in 2005 called “First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong”.
Neil Armstrong has died at the age of 82 from complications due to cardiovascular procedures related to heart surgery that he underwent several weeks ago. As his family is quoted as saying, “Neil Armstrong was also a reluctant American hero who believed he was doing his job. He served his nation proudly as a navy fighter pilot, test pilot and astronaut. He was an advocate of aviation and exploration throughout his life and never lost his boyhood wonder of these pursuits.”
The President and First Lady are also deeply saddened by the loss. Here is the statement released by the White House on the passing of Neil A. Armstrong:
Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Neil Armstrong.
Neil was among the greatest of American heroes – not just of his time, but of all time. When he and his fellow crew members lifted off aboard Apollo 11 in 1969, they carried with them the aspirations of an entire nation. They set out to show the world that the American spirit can see beyond what seems unimaginable – that with enough drive and ingenuity, anything is possible. And when Neil stepped foot on the surface of the moon for the first time, he delivered a moment of human achievement that will never be forgotten.
Today, Neil’s spirit of discovery lives on in all the men and women who have devoted their lives to exploring the unknown – including those who are ensuring that we reach higher and go further in space. That legacy will endure – sparked by a man who taught us the enormous power of one small step.
PHOTO CREDITS: Time/Life Picture Staff, Getty Images, A/P, Reuters
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