Saturday, August 25, 2012
Neil Armstrong Has Died
Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, has died at the age of 82, after suffering complications from heart surgery, his family said in a statement.
Earlier this month, the former NASA astronaut had undergone heart surgery.
He famously uttered the quote moments after setting foot on the lunar surface: ‘That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.’
A statement from the family says he died following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. It doesn't say where he died.
According to NBC News, the Armstrong family wrote in a statement: ‘Next time you walk outside on clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil and give him a wink.’
NASA, too, was quick to express their sympathies, tweeting: ‘NASA offers its condolences on today's passing of Neil Armstrong, former test pilot, astronaut & the 1st man on the moon.’
As commander of the Apollo 11 mission, Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969.
The legendary astronaut was born on August 5, 1930, near Wapakoneta, Ohio. He went on to work in the military, pilot planes, and eventually, spacecrafts.
During the historic mission on July 20, 1969, nearly half a billion people tuned in to watch the black and white mission to the moon, where Armstrong, joined by Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin, spent some two hours loping around on the eerie grey surface.
(The Daily Mail )
