God Speed Neil Armstrong

[Sirota]

I lost my childhood hero today.


Neil Armstrong was a quiet, self-described "nerdy" engineer who became a global hero when as a steely-nerved U.S. pilot he made "one giant leap for mankind" with the first step on the moon.
The modest man who entranced and awed people on Earth has died. He was 82.
Armstrong died Saturday following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures, a statement from his family said. It didn't say where he died.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/08/25/astronaut-neil-armstrong-dies-at-82/#ixzz24ayK8S12

[rwanttaja]

"Almighty ruler of them all
Whose power extends to great and small
Who guides the stars with steadfast law,
Whose least creation fills with awe
Oh grant Thy mercy, and Thy Grace
To those who venture into space...."

- Robert A. Heinlein.

[RV8505]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuW4oGKzVKc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuW4oGKzVKc) Sept 12 1962

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMINSD7MmT4 July 20 1969

Less than Seven years start to finish!

[Buzz]

For those of us alive at the time, hard not to feel like the passing of an era.

NASA could not have picked a better person to be first by all descriptions of him personally. He was the perfect representative for the 400,000 people behind the scenes that put him there. A guy not interested in fame, even when it was thrust upon him, and refused to capitalize on the work of all the others. Like the other 400,000, just doing his part of the job.

Thank you Neil. You inspired us all.

[knolde]

I never met Neil Armstrong, nor have I ever seen him, but I flew with him. The day Neil and Collins were struggling to get the door of the LEM open, I was a backseater in an RF-4C flying over the pacific. I was in a 4 ship of RF-4Cs going from Okinawa to Guam and the RF had an HF radio, so we were all listening to the activity, as the door finally opened. Then Neil finally stepped out and spoke, and we cheered. I (we all) did grasp the significance of the moment and for us, there sure as heck could not be too many other Americans as close as we were--magic. Of all the great times I remember in 2500+ hours in an F4, this is the crowning memory. God Bless Neil and thanks!