RIP Neil Armstrong

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RIP Neil Armstrong

Post by FormerBondFan »

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Re: RIP Neil Armstrong

Post by Goldeneye »

A true American hero RIP.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/25/us/neil-a ... ?hpt=hp_t1
Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon, dies
By the CNN Wire Staff
updated 4:19 PM EDT, Sat August 25, 2012

(CNN) -- Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, has died, his family said Saturday. He was 82.

"We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures," Armstrong's family said in a statement obtained by CNN affiliate WKRC.

Armstrong underwent heart surgery this month.

"While we mourn the loss of a very good man, we also celebrate his remarkable life and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves," his family said.

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"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."

Armstrong flew into space twice. He made his first journey in 1966 as commander of the Gemini 8 mission, which nearly ended in disaster.

Armstrong kept his cool and brought the spacecraft home safely after a thruster rocket malfunctioned and caused it to spin wildly out of control.

During his next space trip in July 1969, Armstrong and fellow astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins blasted off in Apollo 11 on a nearly 250,000-mile journey to the moon that went down in the history books.

It took them four days to reach their destination.

Time: Life up close with Apollo 11

The world watched and waited as the lunar module "Eagle" separated from the command module and began its descent.

Then came the words from Armstrong: "Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed."

About six and a half hours later at 10:56 p.m. ET on July 20, 1969, Armstrong, at age 38, became the first person to set foot on the moon.

He uttered the now-famous phrase: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Armstrong was on the moon's surface for two hours and 32 minutes and Aldrin, who followed him, spent about 15 minutes less than that.

The two astronauts set up an American flag, scooped up moon rocks and set up scientific experiments before returning to the main spacecraft.

All three returned home to a hero's welcome, and none ever returned to space. Armstrong received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969, the highest award offered to a U.S. civilian.

Tributes to the former astronaut began pouring in Saturday as word of his death spread.

The untold story of Apollo 11

"Neil Armstrong was a true American hero, both because of his extraordinary service to his country and the honorable life he led. He was a groundbreaking Naval aviator and the world's most famous astronaut, but it was his humble and gracious response to the torrent of attention that followed his accomplishments that may have set him apart most," said Ohio Sen. Rob Portman.

Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, on August 5, 1930.

After his historic mission to the moon, Armstrong worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), coordinating and managing the administration's research and technology work.

In 1971, he resigned from NASA and taught engineering at the University of Cincinnati for nearly a decade.

While many people are quick to cash in on their 15 minutes of fame, Armstrong largely avoided the public spotlight and chose to lead a quiet, private life with his wife and children.

But he always recognized -- in a humble manner -- the importance of what he had accomplished.

"Looking back, we were really very privileged to live in that thin slice of history where we changed how man looks at himself and what he might become and where he might go," Armstrong said.

'Muscle guys' who brought Apollo 11 home

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Re: RIP Neil Armstrong

Post by Dr. No »

I never heard about this
The speech that Nixon never gave: ‘In event of moon disaster’
By Claudine Zap | The Lookout – 3 hrs ago
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/spe ... 46192.html
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Neil Armstrong, who died on Saturday, is being remembered as the astronaut who took the the first step on the moon.

But the successful lunar landing on July 20, 1969, was not a given. A memo of a speech drafted by William Safire just days before the landing, is surfacing again on the Web. The memo is titled "In Event of Moon Disaster."

Back in 1999, William Safire discussed the undelivered speech with Tim Russert on NBC's "Meet The Press."

Safire was asked to consider an alternative to a successful moon landing.

Nixon's speech writer explained, "At that time, the most dangerous part of the moon mission, was getting the moon module back up into orbit and join the command ship."

Click image to see more photos

AP Photo/NASA

Safire added, "But if they couldn't , they would have to be abandoned on the moon, left to die there. And mission control would have to close down communication. The men would either starve to death or commit suicide."

The moving text of the speech, sent to President Nixon's chief of staff, H.R. Halderman, was thankfully never used. It begins, "Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace.

These brave men, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, know that there is no hope for their recovery. But they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice."

The speech continues,

They will be mourned by their families and friends; they will be mourned by their nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother Earth that dared send two of her sons into the unknown.

In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man.

In ancient days, men looked at stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood.

Others will follow, and surely find their way home. Man's search will not be denied. But these men were the first, and they will remain the foremost in our hearts.

For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind
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