Neil Armstrong

Photo of Neil Armstrong

Biography

Armstrong's story followed a near-archetypal path, an unassuming small-town boy whose fascination with the possibilities of an age of wonders drew him to achieve the once unimaginable. Able to fly airplanes before he could legally drive a car, he went on to a decorated hitch with the U.S. Navy, seeing action in Korea, then became one of America's foremost jet-propulsion test-pilots. Selected by the National Aerospace Administration (NASA) to …
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Job Title

Actor

Born

Neil Alden Armstrong on August 5, 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio, USA

Career Milestones

2010

Testified in Congress against President Barack Obama's decision to cancel the Constellation program

2005

Gave rare TV interview on CBS news program "60 Minutes"

2005

Authorized biography First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong by James R. Hansen released

2003

Voiced Orville Wright in "Kitty Hawk: The Wright Brothers' Journey of Invention"; John Glenn voiced Wilbur Wright

1993

Received star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with Aldrin and Collins

1991

Hosted A&E documentary series "First Flights with Neil Armstrong"

1986

Served as vice chairman of the Presidential Commission on the space shuttle Challenger accident

1982

Served as chairman for air fleet software pioneer Computing Technologies for Aviation (CTA)

1980

Named chairman of the board at Cardwell International, a heavy machinery manufacturer

1971

Left NASA to teach engineering at the University of Cincinnati

1970

Appeared as featured guest on "The Bob Hope Christmas Special" (NBC)

1969

Remained at NASA as deputy associate administrator for aeronautics

1969

Received Presidential Medial of Freedom along with Aldrin and Collins

1969

Became the first man to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969; uttered the famous line "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."

1969

Named commander of the Apollo 11 flight, the first manned mission to the moon, alongside Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins

1966

First mission, launched into the earth's orbit on March 16, 1966 on Gemini VIII with fellow astronaut David Scott

1962

Joined the National Aerospace Administration (NASA)

1949

Flew 78 combat missions during Korean War

1947

Studied aeronautical engineering at Purdue University on a U.S. Navy scholarship

Obtained small-plane pilot's license at age 16