Neil Armstrong dies

First man on the Moon was 82

Touch down ... Neil Armstrong on July 20, 1969

TRIBUTES poured in last night for Neil Armstrong — whose “one giant leap for mankind” made him the first astronaut on the Moon.

The Apollo 11 mission commander — whose historic lunar landing in 1969 was watched by a fifth of the world’s population — has died aged 82.
Armstrong had emergency heart-bypass surgery to relieve blocked coronary arteries on August 7, two days after his birthday.

Pioneer ... Neil Armstrong

A “deeply saddened” President Obama said: “Neil was among the greatest of American heroes — not just of his time but of all time.”
An estimated 600 million watched the fuzzy black-and-white TV images as Armstrong placed a foot on the Moon on July 21, 1969.
He said: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” He thought up the immortal words with his wife Janet — and revealed he had meant to say “for a man”.

One small step ... footprint

Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, 82 — who stepped down the Apollo landing craft ladder to become the second man on the Moon — last night praised former test pilot Armstrong as “a great spokesman and leader in the space programme”.
The two men — among only 12 to step on the Moon — spent nearly three hours on the lunar surface.
Michael Collins, now 81, who orbited ready for the return to Earth, said Armstrong “was the best and I will miss him terribly.”
Armstrong died in Ohio, the state where he was born on August 5 1930.

Making history ... Neil Armstrong on Moon

His “heartbroken” family issued a tribute last night, saying: “The next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the Moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.”
They praised him as “a reluctant American hero who always believed he was just doing his job” — and urged people to “honour his example of service, accomplishment and modesty”.
Sun Professor Brian Cox said in an online tribute: “I do think Apollo was the greatest of human achievements. For once we reached beyond our grasp.”

Landed ... Neil Armstrong steps down

Veteran astronomer Sir Patrick Moore said: “I knew Neil Armstrong well. He was a man who had all the courage in the world.” Jamie Burgess, of the National Space Centre, said: “It’s extremely sad news. It’s a terrible shock to the science community. He will be sorely missed.”
Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker said: “Sort of mentioned him in a tweet this morning and now hear that the first man on the Moon has died. Neil Armstrong RIP.”

Team ... with Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin

Sarah Brown, wife of former PM Gordon, tweeted: “Neil Armstrong: ‘My thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn’t feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.’ RIP” Actor Stephen Fry wrote: “Oh. Just heard that the first man to walk on the Moon has died. Neil Armstrong. How sad. RIP.”
Former President Richard Nixon had called the Apollo 11 heroes’ eight-day trip to the Moon “the greatest week in the history of the world since the Creation”.
But shy Armstrong always refused to cash in on his celebrity status. The self-proclaimed nerd chose to live in relative seclusion in his Ohio farmhouse, teaching engineering at the local university.

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First man to walk on the Moon dies

NEIL ARMSTRONG, aged 82, passed away following complications after heart surgery

He was appointed Nasa’s deputy associate administrator for aeronautics. Since 1994, Armstrong refused all requests to sign autographs, because he was tired of people selling them on for a profit.
In one of his rare public appearances, he said: “I am, and ever will be, a white socks, pocket protector, nerdy engineer.
“And I take a substantial amount of pride in the accomplishments of my profession.”
Asked about his experience on the Moon, he once said: “It’s an interesting place to be, I recommend it.”

Icon ... Neil Armstrong

Armstrong had three children with first wife Janet, but she divorced him after 38 years of marriage in 1994. He later married Carol Knight, whom he met at a charity event.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Moon landing the Apollo astronauts received the Langely medal for aviation in a special ceremony. Armstrong once protested: “I don’t want to be a living memorial.”
But his footprints, still there on the surface of the windless Moon, are his memorial forever.

Spaceman ... Neil Armstong climbs down lunar module

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Words that made history

DURING the descent on to the Moon, Neil Armstrong coolly said: “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.”
It took almost five minutes for Armstrong to climb down the ladder to the surface and he said: “Okay, I’m going to step off the LM (Lunar Module) now.”
As he set foot on the surface, he said: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

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By SIR PATRICK MOORE, TV presenter and astronomer

I HAVE known him for a long time — since before he went to the Moon. I’m very sad about the news.

Veteran ... Neil Armstrong in 2009

We knew he had heart problems but it’s still a shock when it happens.
He was a man who had all the courage in the world.
As the first man on the Moon, he broke all records. They only had one shot at getting the Moon landing right and they picked the right man to go.
But despite everything he achieved, he was a man of great modesty. After the Moon landing he studied and became a professor.
He will never be forgotten.

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