
Neil A. Armstrong
New
World Celt
Born
August 5, 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio. Married. Two sons.
Neil
holds a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from Purdue
University; Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from University of
Southern California. He holds honorary doctorates from a number of universities.
He is the recipient of many special
honors, including the Presidential Medal for Freedom in 1969; the Robert H.
Goddard Memorial Trophy in 1970; the Robert J. Collier Trophy in 1969; and the
Congressional Space Medal of Honor, 1978.
In 1962, Armstrong was transferred to astronaut status. He served as command
pilot for the Gemini 8 mission, launched March 16, 1966, and performed the first
successful docking of two vehicles in space.
In 1969, Armstrong was commander of Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing
mission, and gained the distinction of being the first man to land a craft on
the Moon and the first man to step on its surface.
Armstrong subsequently held the position of Deputy Association Administrator for
Aeronautics, NASA Headquarters Office of Advanced Research and Technology, from
1970 to 1971. He resigned from NASA in 1971.
"That's
one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."