Neil Armstrong
By: Rubal D.
Early Years
Neil Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He was born in the beginning to the Great Depression. He was the eldest child of Stephen Armstrong and Viola Armstrong. He also had two siblings, June and Dean Armstrong. Airplanes and mechanics caught his attention at a very young age. For his 6th birthday he went to ride in a Ford Tribute airplane in Warren, Ohio. Also when he was eight years old he would build models of airplanes out of paper and balsa wood. His parents wouldn't just give him money for all this stuff. He earned it by moving grass at a local cemetery. He was really small in size and that's what got him his job at a bakery. He had a lot of jobs that helped him make money for building model airplanes.
High School
During High School Years Neil Armstrong's father changed jobs a lot. His family moved back to Wapakoneta on there grandparents farm. He also went to Blume High School. He participated in band, glee club and student council. Armstrong flew his first plane when he was 15 years old. The plane was called Aeronca Champ. He also earned his private pilot license when he was 16.
College Years
Neil Armstrong didn't have enough money to go to college so he joined the Navy. In 1949 he had to go on active duty in the Korean War. Armstrong flew 78 combat missions as a navy pilot. In 1952 he returned to his studies. He also enrolled to Purdue University from a navy scholarship. Armstrong was also in the Purdue marching band. He graduated from there in 1955. In 1970 he went to the University of Southern California. He received honorary doctorates from 17 countries.
Astronaut Days/Retirement
Neil Armstrong was the first person on the moon along with Buzz Aldrin and Micheal Collins. He was assigned command pilot on the Gemini 8 mission on March 16, 1966. After he went on the Apollo 11 mission on July 16,1969. His famous quote is "that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". After the Apollo 11 mission he retired from NASA in 1971. After that he served as a Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati from 1971 till 1979. Unfortunately, he died on August 25, 2012 at the age of 82 years old.
Neil Armstrong as Astronaut
Neil Armstrong, Micheal Collins and Buzz Aldrin
Neil Armstrong as Professor
Neil Armstrong - Mini Biography
Website/Video Sources
- Dunbar, Brian. "Who Is Neil Armstrong?" NASA. NASA, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2015., from http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/who-was-neil-armstrong-58.html
- "Purdue Remembers Neil Armstrong." Purdue Remembers Neil Armstrong. Purdue Members, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2015., from http://www.purdue.edu/armstrong/
- Dixon-Engel, Tara, and Mike Jackson. Neil Armstrong: One Giant Leap for Mankind. New York: Sterling, 2008. Print.
- Neil Armstrong - Mini Biography. Perf. Neil Armstrong. 2014. Youtube Video., from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS87_h-P02M
- "Neil Armstrong." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 13 Dec. 2015., from http://www.history.com/topics/neil-armstrong
Picture Sources
- Eunji. Neil Armstrong. Digital image. The My Hero Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 2010., from http://myhero.com/hero.asp?hero=N_Armstrong2_dnhs_US_2010_ul
- Dear Neil Armstrong. Digital image. N.p., 2015. Web., from http://www.jconline.com/story/opinion/columnists/dave-bangert/2014/12/05/dear-neil-armstrong-fan-mail/19917881/
- Neil Armstrong. Digital image. Neil Armstrong Biography. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 2015., from http://www.biography.com/people/neil-armstrong-9188943#related-video-gallery
- Neil Armstrong. Digital image. Neil Armstrong Biography. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 2015., from http://www.biography.com/people/neil-armstrong-9188943#related-video-gallery
- Neil Armstrong. Digital image. N.p., 2015. Web. 2015., from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Armstrong
- Neil Armstrong. Digital image. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 2015., from http://www.biography.com/people/neil-armstrong-9188943/videos/neil-armstrong-the-space-race-and-the-cold-war-33824680