Neil Armstrong, the astronaut who became first to walk on the moon as commander of Apollo 11, has died Aug. 25, 2012.   He was 82 years old.



http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/neil-armstrong-man-moon-dead/story?id=12325140

That is such sad news. I'm a huge fan of the Apollo program.

  It's the end of an era.

Quote from: Felicitá on August 25, 2012, 02:56:06 PM
It's the end of an era.

It sure is. Soon we will be living in a world where no living human being has set foot on the moon. To me that is a very depressing thought.

Quote from: Ms. OBrien on August 25, 2012, 02:29:29 PM
Neil Armstrong, the astronaut who became first to walk on the moon as commander of Apollo 11, has died Aug. 25, 2012.   He was 82 years old.



http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/neil-armstrong-man-moon-dead/story?id=12325140

Like Columbus he will be remembered for long time to come, and also like Columbus he was but an accidental passenger; the glory belongs to the countless NASA engineers and scientists that without "systems engineering" or bull-->-bleeped-<- acquisition" managed to make President Kennedy's vision a reality

Quote from: peky on August 25, 2012, 03:13:55 PM
Like Columbus he will be remembered for long time to come, and also like Columbus he was but an accidental passenger; the glory belongs to the countless NASA engineers and scientists that without "systems engineering" or bull-->-bleeped-<- acquisition" managed to make President Kennedy's vision a reality

The astronauts were not simply dummies stuffed into a space craft. They were also engineers and scientists and were an integral part of the development of the hardware and the procedures necessary to make it to the moon. For instance, Buzz Aldrin was key in developing the rendezvous technique that made the voyages to the moon possible. The astronomy were the ones that would advice the subcontractor on many aspects of how the space crafts would have to be designed and built. Procedures and manuals were written by the astronauts themselves. Also, Neil Armstrong was very nearly killed in a test flight with the LLRV when it malfunctioned.

Armstrong LLRV crash

Ms. OBrien,

Wow, I found this out here first before I even saw this on a media source! Neil had nerves of steel & never lost him composure to get back safe after he undocked a Gemini and the craft gyrated in orbit, managed to stabilize and emergency leave of orbit back to Earth and as noted by MariaMx the LLRV incident. Remarkable accomplishments and so humble. A true pioneer in the "new frontier." R.I.P. Neil.

Jamie

  I followed the manned space program since the "Original 7" was chosen.  The Moon shots were the big thing in the late 60's.  "Houston, Tranquillity Base here: The Eagle has landed!"  I remember that phrase and the normally staid national news anchor Walter Cronkite showing emotion when Commander Armstrong uttered those words as we all watched.  RIP Neal Armstrong.
  Joelene