Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon, dies at 82

BY Jillian Raftery  on August 25, 2012 @ 11:28 am (Updated: 11:40 pm - 8/25/12 )

AP: 015ed592-246f-43a9-9ec0-3906ad71362d
This July 20, 1969 file photo provided by NASA shows Neil Armstrong in space. The family of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, says he has died at age 82. (AP Photo/NASA) | Zoom
Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, has died at age 82.

One of America's best-known astronauts, Armstrong underwent heart bypass surgery earlier in August to repair blocked coronary arteries. His family said in a press release that he died as a result of complications from the surgery.

Armstrong began his career as a Naval Aviator in 1950, interrupting his college classes at Purdue University to serve in the Korean War.

After his service, Armstrong applied to be an experimental research test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California, where he flew many of the airplanes that led to developing shuttle technology. By 1958 he was selected for a special program to fly planes developed by the military to operate in space. After that Armstrong was continually selected for service in advanced testing and space flight programs.

Finally, Armstrong made history on July 20, 1969 when he became the first man to walk on the moon as the commander of the Apollo 11 mission.

That was when he spoke some of the most famous words in U.S. history:

"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Only twelve other Americans walked the moon between 1969 and 1972 when the NASA shuttle program was at its most active.

More details will be posted as information becomes available.

Jillian Raftery, Social Media Captain
Jillian Raftery is a social media captain for the Dori Monson Show. She loves the neighborly vibe of the Pacific Northwest and spends as much time as possible outdoors.
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Comments (5)


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  • hpygolkyone wrote...
    It's Sad..........
    August 25, 2012 11:52 am
    This guy was like a hero to me.....and yet, he lived his entire live shunning the spotlight.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • JMinIssaquah wrote...
    Hero of the planet
    August 25, 2012 12:19 pm
    For a few minutes, this man brought the world together. a hero to all.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    I'm a big fan of Mr. Armstrong
    August 25, 2012 1:04 pm
    but Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon at the same instant that Neil Armstrong did. Walking down the ladder was not the giant leap Neil Armstrong was talking about.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    All three were hero's that day..
    August 25, 2012 1:50 pm
    Neil was a class act from beginning to end. Here's what's really sad: Half the population of this country likely can't name the 2nd or 3rd crew members on Apollo 11
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Armstrong was a old fashioned TRUE HERO
    August 25, 2012 3:25 pm
    The term Hero is thrown around loosely today but he and the other Astronauts put their lives on the line.When I see a person hailed as a HERO today because he threw them a line or called 911 I cringe
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }