Neil Armstrong

Neil Alden Armstrong was an American aeronautical engineer, naval aviator, experimental test pilot, and astronaut whose calm grace under immense pressure secured his place as one of humanity's eternal explorers. Flying 78 combat missions in the Korean War, Armstrong became an elite research test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base, piloting the hypersonic X-15 rocket plane to Mach 5.74 and 207,000 feet altitude.

Selected in NASA's second astronaut group, Armstrong performed the first successful docking of two spacecraft in orbit during Gemini 8 in 1966. On July 20, 1969, as Commander of Apollo 11 alongside Buzz Aldrin, Armstrong took manual control of the Lunar Module Eagle when the automated guidance aimed toward a boulder field, touching down in the Sea of Tranquility with only seconds of fuel remaining. Descending the lunar ladder, he placed his left boot on the lunar surface on July 21, declaring: 'That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.' After his lunar journey, Armstrong taught aeronautical engineering at the University of Cincinnati and lived with humble dignity.