The Biography of Neil Armstrong
On August 5, 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio, Neil Alden Armstrong was born as the first child in his family. Even from a young age, Armstrong loved flight. His love of flying developed after a plane ride with his father. When he was 14 years old, he worked in a pharmacy to earn money for flying airplanes nearby his home. On his 16th birthday he obtained his pilot's license instead of his drivers license (Gale Research Inc., 1990).
As college approached, Armstrong knew that his parents would not be able to fund his education. The family was not poor, but they did not have the amount of money needed to send their eldest son to college. Armstrong earned a Navy Scholarship in order to obtain the money needed to attend Purdue University (Gale Research Inc., 1990). From 1947-1949, Armstrong studied at Purdue. Following his first two years of college education, he served as a Naval Aviator (1949-1952) (CNN, 2013). During his time with the Navy, Armstrong served in active duty in the Korean War, flew in 78 combat missions, and was awarded the Air Medal from the United States three times. After war, he returned to Purdue where he studied from 1952-1955. While at Purdue for the second time, Armstrong met his first wife, Janet Shearon (Gale Research Inc., 1990). They were married in 1956 and throughout the years had three children: Mark Stephen, Karen Anne, and Erik Alan (CNN, 2013).
As college approached, Armstrong knew that his parents would not be able to fund his education. The family was not poor, but they did not have the amount of money needed to send their eldest son to college. Armstrong earned a Navy Scholarship in order to obtain the money needed to attend Purdue University (Gale Research Inc., 1990). From 1947-1949, Armstrong studied at Purdue. Following his first two years of college education, he served as a Naval Aviator (1949-1952) (CNN, 2013). During his time with the Navy, Armstrong served in active duty in the Korean War, flew in 78 combat missions, and was awarded the Air Medal from the United States three times. After war, he returned to Purdue where he studied from 1952-1955. While at Purdue for the second time, Armstrong met his first wife, Janet Shearon (Gale Research Inc., 1990). They were married in 1956 and throughout the years had three children: Mark Stephen, Karen Anne, and Erik Alan (CNN, 2013).
Concluding Armstrong's studies in 1955, he joined with NASA as and Engineer, test pilot, astronaut, and administrator. In 1962 he was transferred to astronaut status within NASA. In 1966 he was selected as Command Pilot for Gemini 8 which launched on March 16, 1966. In 1968 he escaped near death after parachuting from a lunar model that went out of control, crashed, and exploded. In 1969 Armstrong was assigned to be the Commander of Apollo 11. On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landed and Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon (Dunbar, B. 2012). He then became famous for saying "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." However, there was a miscommunication due to the microphone resulting a slight change of the famous quote (CNN, 2013).
After becoming the first man on the moon, Armstrong went to the University of Southern California (USC) where he studied and received his Master's Degree in 1970. In 1971, he resigned from NASA and became a professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati (1971-1979). In 1982 he became the chairman of Computing Technologies for Aviation, Inc. in Charlottesville, Virginia. He served there until 1992. In 1986, Armstrong became the Vice-Chairman for the Space Shuttle Challenger that exploded after take-off (Dunbar, B. 2012). In 1994, he divorced his wife, Janet, and married Carol Held Knight on June 12, 1994. They were then married until Armstrong passed away (CNN 2013).
Neil Alden Armstrong passed away on August 25, 2012 due to complications from a cardiovascular procedure (Dunbar, B. 2012). Armstrong died at age 82 after living a long, beneficial life. Many would say that Neil Armstrong was not one for limelight; he did what he could to avoid the public spotlight (Space.com, 2013). People knew him as generous, caring, and very kind-hearted. He used his fame for good and always tried to make a difference in the world. Although Armstrong passed away in 2012, his legacy will live on forever (Haddock, J. 2014).
After becoming the first man on the moon, Armstrong went to the University of Southern California (USC) where he studied and received his Master's Degree in 1970. In 1971, he resigned from NASA and became a professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati (1971-1979). In 1982 he became the chairman of Computing Technologies for Aviation, Inc. in Charlottesville, Virginia. He served there until 1992. In 1986, Armstrong became the Vice-Chairman for the Space Shuttle Challenger that exploded after take-off (Dunbar, B. 2012). In 1994, he divorced his wife, Janet, and married Carol Held Knight on June 12, 1994. They were then married until Armstrong passed away (CNN 2013).
Neil Alden Armstrong passed away on August 25, 2012 due to complications from a cardiovascular procedure (Dunbar, B. 2012). Armstrong died at age 82 after living a long, beneficial life. Many would say that Neil Armstrong was not one for limelight; he did what he could to avoid the public spotlight (Space.com, 2013). People knew him as generous, caring, and very kind-hearted. He used his fame for good and always tried to make a difference in the world. Although Armstrong passed away in 2012, his legacy will live on forever (Haddock, J. 2014).