Comment by Valentino Martinez on August 26, 2012 at 2:52pm

NASA Photo"

On July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong made history:

"“Houston, Tranquility Base here,” Mr. Armstrong radioed to mission control. “The Eagle has landed.”

“Roger, Tranquility,” mission control replied. “We copy you on the ground. You’ve got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We’re breathing again. Thanks a lot.”

"...A few hours later, there was Mr. Armstrong bundled in a white spacesuit and helmet on the ladder of the landing craft. Planting his feet on the lunar surface, he said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” (His words would become the subject of a minor historical debate, as to whether he said “man” or an indistinct “a man.”)

Soon Colonel Aldrin joined Mr. Armstrong, bounding like kangaroos in the low lunar gravity, one sixth that of Earth’s, while the command ship pilot, Michael Collins, remained in orbit about 60 miles overhead, waiting their return. In all, 12 American astronauts walked on the moon between then and the Apollo 17 mission in 1972."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/science/space/neil-armstrong-dies...

 

Neil Alden Armstrong was an American astronaut, test pilot, aerospace engineer, university professor and United States Naval Aviator. He was the first person to walk on the Moon. Wikipedia

 

From 1971-1974, while stationed at the Pentagon and later the Military Personnel Center (MILPERCEN) in Alexandria, VA -- and even later, from 1981-1989, while working as a Recruiter/Project Manager and Manager of Employment for Rockwell International, I had the great good fortune of meeting, recruiting and facilitating the hire of several Test Pilots, Combat Pilots (including Top Gun) and an Astronaut. 

Befriending many of these professionals was a major perk for me as a recruiter and as an avid fan of highly accomplished aviators.  The stories they would share, about themselves and others, in pushing the envelope of high speed flight were mesmerizing.  The courage they exhibited in combat, in test flights and in space travel were riveting and heroic.  

Hats off to them for the trails they blazed -- and the bar they raised so high.

Comment by Valentino Martinez on September 13, 2012 at 10:06am

       

Public farewell to Neil Armstrng set for today, September 13th -- Memorial service at Washington National Cathedral to be streamed online...

A public memorial service for late astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the moon, will take place Sept. 13 at Washington National Cathedral in the nation's capital.    

The event offers a chance for the nation to pay its respects to the iconic astronaut, who died Aug. 25 following complications from recent heart surgery. A previous ceremony was held for Armstrong on Aug. 31 in Cincinnati, but that one was limited to friends and family.

The Sept. 13 service is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. ET. It will be broadcast live on NASA TV and streamed via the websites of NASA and the National Cathedral.

Many dignitaries are expected to attend, including NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and other NASA officials, political leaders and members of the Armstrong family, space agency officials said.

A select few regular folks will make it into the service as well. A "very limited" number of seats will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis, according to a NASA media advisory. People interested in attending should contact Christine Peterson at christine.peterson@nasa.gov.

Neil Armstrong rose to international fame when he stepped onto the lunar surface on July 20, 1969. He and Buzz Aldrin spent more than 21 hours on the moon, while fellow Apollo 11 crewmate Michael Collins orbited above in their command module Columbia.

    

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48903857/ns/technology_and_science-spac...

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