Neil Armstrong dead at 82
August 25th, 2012
03:43 PM ET

Neil Armstrong dead at 82

Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, has died, his family said Saturday. He was 82.

"We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures," his family said in a statement obtained by CNN affiliate WKRC.

Armstrong underwent heart surgery this month.

He and fellow astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins blasted off in Apollo 11 on a nearly 250,000-mile journey to the moon that went down in the history books.

It took them four days to reach their destination.

The world watched and waited as the lunar module "Eagle" separated from the command module and began its descent.

Then came the words from Armstrong: "Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed."

About six and a half hours later at 10:56 p.m. ET on July 20, 1969, Armstrong, at age 38, became the first person to set foot on the moon.

He uttered the now-famous phrase: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

After his historic mission, Armstrong worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), coordinating and managing the administration's research and technology work.

In 1971, Armstrong resigned from NASA and taught engineering at the University of Cincinnati for nearly a decade.

While many people are quick to cash in on their 15 minutes of fame, Armstrong largely avoided the public spotlight and chose to lead a quiet, private life with his wife and children.

But he always recognized - in a humble manner - the importance of what he had accomplished.

"Looking back, we were really very privileged to live in that thin slice of history where we changed how man looks at himself and what he might become and where he might go," Armstrong said.

Read the full story

More on Neil Armstrong:

First man on moon gives rare interview to Australian accountant?

From bras to spacesuits: The untold story of Apollo 11

Inspiring tomorrow's rocket scientists

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Filed under: Space
soundoff (89 Responses)
  1. BOMBO ©

    Real proof that the conspiracy theorists are full of it:

    Have you ever tried to deal with a federal government office at any level? Or worse yet, two government offices at once on the same issue? The extreme lack of coordination and competence is mindboggling. One is left with the impression that none of these people could tie their own shoelaces. It's not a question of whether or not they make mistakes, but how often the mistakes occur and how massive they can be. This is the same federal government that some of you believe are capable of conspiracies that must in some cases involve thousands of people and dozens of departments, sometimes foreign governments and private corporations as well. And you would have us all believe they can pull it off without a hitch and never screw up in a big way? If you weren't so funny, you'd be pitiful.

    August 26, 2012 at 6:52 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Here's further proof, BOMBO©:

      Governmental deviousness is usually better explained by incompetence, vanity, and the need to protect one's job at all costs.

      They could never have pulled this off...never.
      The many, many years (and people) required to pull off this "hoax" is just ludicrous.
      I found the rock with the "copyright" on it; it wasn't on the original photos, and can be explained by the copying process, a hair, or...even better..doctored photos by the people who are desperately looking for a way to validate their silly theory...they already *have* doctored many photos as their "proof".

      August 26, 2012 at 7:46 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Finally:

      This is a c. C
      This is a copyright. ©

      August 26, 2012 at 7:51 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Hope

    A True Hero, who avoided the spotlight,
    preferring his privacy...

    Salute!
    Hope

    banasy©:

    Conspiracy-aulics conspire to destroy facts
    like the hallucinogenic never wore off. Defy
    logic and take a ride on the wild side... and
    argue to their graves. Don't waste your time.

    Love,
    Hope

    August 26, 2012 at 7:05 pm | Report abuse |
    • Hope

      Hi bombo!

      😀

      Thanks,
      Hope

      August 26, 2012 at 7:10 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Hope:
      Wise words from a wise lady...thank you!

      August 26, 2012 at 7:49 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Hope

    My boyfriend's dad served in the Navy and
    was stationed on the Tweety Bird, an aircraft
    carrier. He participated in the recovery of the
    capsules.

    Space, the final frontier,
    Hope

    August 26, 2012 at 7:18 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Kenney

    @@@phillipi guess since its sunday its your day ? Did you see where i burried you up to your neck in ice at just over 19,000ft on alpamayo ? And you have the best view of all looking due south straight at antarctica you have also been pickled as well just a thought and a tribute to our beloved phillip . If you have not noticed you blatant idiot , everyone is a lot stronger since , and during my climbe solo of course and my magic worked and will continue to work . Im the one that haunted you for so long , im the one that has made you run run run run and you just keep up with your tangents and you will see someday that all the good people will just keep getting stronger , and more resistant to your stupidity have a good night PHILLIPY !!! hahahahahahahahhahahhahahah

    August 27, 2012 at 1:07 am | Report abuse |
  5. Anup Shrestha

    Great Coincidence dedicated to Neil Armstrong.

    Although Alien means foreign, unfamiliar, strange etc, generally Alien means some creature belonging to outer space. Similarly, for the outside world we human are Alien. Neil Armstrong was Alien for outside universe who stepped for the first time in moon and outside earth and if we care enough to see the name of Neil Armstrong as NEIL A and read it opposite it becomes A LIEN. It’s a great coincidence (or Gods will) and we need to think thousands of times that why Neil A. was selected to step in the moon in behalf of mankind.

    I dedicate this coincidence to Neil Armstrong, the Alien for outer space.

    August 27, 2012 at 5:23 am | Report abuse |
  6. Kenney

    We never die we awaken through passing , and then become the eyes of the world

    August 27, 2012 at 12:00 pm | Report abuse |
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