Neil Armstrong: A Detailed Biography

Neil Alden Armstrong (1930–2012) was the American astronaut who became the **first human to walk on the Moon** on July 20, 1969. Calm, competent, and famously humble, his “one small step” is one of history’s most iconic moments. This biography covers his Ohio childhood, Navy service, test pilot career, Gemini and Apollo missions, lunar landing, and quiet later life, as documented by the NASA, the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and the Smithsonian Air & Space Magazine.

Early Life in Ohio

Flying at Age 6

Born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio, Armstrong took his first airplane ride at age 6 and earned a pilot’s licence at 16 — before he could drive a car. He studied aeronautical engineering at Purdue University on a Navy scholarship.

Korean War and Test Pilot

Armstrong flew 78 combat missions in the Korean War as a Navy pilot, was shot down once, and ejected safely. After the war he became a civilian test pilot at NACA (later NASA), flying the X-15 rocket plane seven times and reaching 207,500 feet, as documented by the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center.

Gemini 8 and Near Disaster

Selected as an astronaut in 1962, Armstrong commanded Gemini 8 in 1966 — the first docking of two spacecraft in orbit. A thruster malfunction sent the craft spinning; he regained control and saved the mission, as preserved by the NASA Gemini archives.

Apollo 11: First Moon Landing

July 20, 1969

Commander of Apollo 11 with Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. With only 30 seconds of fuel left, Armstrong manually landed the lunar module Eagle in the Sea of Tranquility. At 10:56 p.m. EDT he stepped onto the Moon and spoke the famous words. Over 600 million people watched live — the largest television audience in history at the time, as recorded by the NASA Apollo 11 site.

Life After the Moon

Armstrong resigned from NASA in 1971, taught aerospace engineering at the University of Cincinnati (1971–1979), and served on corporate boards. He avoided publicity, famously saying “I am, and ever will be, a white-socks, pocket-protector, nerdy engineer.”

Personal Life

Married Janet Shearon in 1956 (divorced 1994); three children (one daughter died of brain cancer at age 2). Married Carol Knight in 1994. He was an Eagle Scout and loved flying gliders into old age.

Death and Legacy

Neil Armstrong’s Enduring Impact

Armstrong died on August 25, 2012, aged 82, from complications following heart surgery. His family requested that when people see the Moon, they “wink at it” in his memory. His spacesuit is displayed at the Smithsonian. The phrase “one small step” is engraved on humanity’s imagination forever.

Frequently Asked Questions About Neil Armstrong

Why Is Neil Armstrong Famous?

First human to walk on the Moon, July 20, 1969.

What Did Neil Armstrong Say on the Moon?

“That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Where Was Neil Armstrong Born?

Wapakoneta, Ohio, August 5, 1930.

Was Armstrong in the Military?

Yes — Navy pilot, 78 Korean War missions, then NASA test pilot.

Who Was the Second Man on the Moon?

Buzz Aldrin — 19 minutes after Armstrong.

Did Armstrong Leave Anything on the Moon?

Yes — a plaque “We came in peace” plaque and Apollo 1 patch.

How Did Neil Armstrong Die?

Complications after heart surgery on August 25, 2012, aged 82.