To the Moon and Back

Neil Armstrong was a brave and kind father, astronaut, and teacher. Armstrong served as chairman of the board of Computing Technologies for Aviation, a company that develops software for flight schedules. Neil did many astonishing acts in his life but he is most famous for being the first man to step foot on the moon.

Neil Armstrong was the oldest of three children. His mother Viola Engel and his dad was Stephen Armstrong were parents who let Neil explore. Neil’s love for flight started when he had his first at the age of six. He was a Boy Scout and got all the way to be an Eagle Scout, which is the highest rank you can get. Neil loved flight so much at the sixteen years old he got his license and in 1947 he became a N.A.C.. He went to Purdue University and studied aeronautical engineering.He left school early to serve hsi country in the Korean War. While in the war, his plane was shot down and later he was awarded three Air Medals for his achievements. He went back to Purdue In 1955 and became an research pilot for NACA; later on, he went to NASA. He flew more than 1,000 hours to test supersonic fighters like the X-15 rocket plane.

On March 16, 1966, Armstrong, commanded the Gemini 8, along with David Scott. He took an unmanned rocket and completed the first manual space docking ever. After landing, a thruster mess up sent the craft into an uncontrollable spinning direction and forced them to eject from it. They got control of the aircraft and made an emergency crash-landing in the Pacific Ocean.

On July 16, 1969, Neil, along with Michael Collins, and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. Michael Collins, flew off in the Apollo 11 rocket toward the Moon. Four days later, the Eagle Lunar landing module, directed by Armstrong, landed on a plain near the edge of the Sea of Tranquility. On July 20, 1969, Neil stepped from the craft onto the Moon with these words, “ That’s one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind.” Armstrong and Aldrin left the craft for two hours and used several tools, and got samples, and took many photographs. Many didn’t know but Aldrin brought along a club and a golf ball to the Moon and played golf. On July 21, after 21 hours on the Moon, the blasted off and began the adventure back to Earth. After the Crash landing in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, all three of the Astronauts spent more than 400 hours in quarantine to make sure there were no germs or diseases brought from space. Neil also got many awards such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, and many other very important awards.

Neil was a great astronaut who loved giving was inspiring to all. He loved to serve his country and volunteered numerous times. He did many marvelous acts in his life but he is most famous for being the first man to step foot on the moon. Neil was a courageous and solid man that all young boys should look up to.