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Born
Near Wapakoneta, Ohio, U.S. -
Pilot license
Astronaut Neil Armstrong developed a fascination with flight at an early age and earned his student pilot's license when he was 16 -
Korean war
n 1949, as part of his scholarship, Armstrong trained as a pilot in the Navy and two years later, served in the Korean War -
Left the service
He left the service and returned to college -
Join Naca
Armstrong joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in 1955. His first assignment was with the NACA Lewis Research Center (now NASA Glenn) in Cleveland -
first mission
Armstrong transferred to astronaut status in 1962. He was assigned as command pilot for the Gemini 8 mission -
Launch
Gemini 8 was launched on March 16, 1966, and Armstrong performed the first successful docking of two vehicles in space. -
apollo 11
The mission was sent to space on July 16, 1969, reached the surface of the Moon on July 20 of that same year and the following day managed to have 2 astronauts -
Professor
He was Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati between 1971-1979 -
chairman
During the years 1982-1992, Armstrong was chairman of Computing Technologies for Aviation, Inc., Charlottesville, Va. -
medals
Armstrong was decorated by 17 countries. , including the Presidential Medal of Freedom; the Congressional Gold Medal; the Congressional Space Medal of Honor; the Explorers Club Medal; the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy; the NASA Distinguished Service Medal; the Harmon International Aviation Trophy; the Royal Geographic Society's Gold Medal; the Federation Aeronautique Internationale's Gold -
Die
rmstrong passed away on Aug. 25, 2012 following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. He was 82.
