Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong was an American astronaut and pilot. He was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, in 1930. On July 20, 1969, he became the first human to set foot on the Moon. His famous words were heard by millions of people around the world.

Early Life

Armstrong loved airplanes as a boy. He earned his pilot's license at age 16, before he even got his driver's license. He flew fighter jets in the Korean War. He later became a test pilot for NASA.

The official patch from Neil Armstrong's Gemini 8 space mission.
The official patch from Neil Armstrong's Gemini 8 space mission. (National Aeronautics and Space Administration / Wikimedia Commons)

Big Achievements

Armstrong commanded the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon. When he stepped onto the surface, he said, 'That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.' He and Buzz Aldrin spent about two hours walking on the Moon. They collected rocks and took photographs.

Fun Facts

  • Armstrong got his pilot's license before his driver's license.
  • He left a patch on the Moon honoring the astronauts who died in the Apollo 1 fire.
  • After the Moon landing, he became a college professor.

Did You Know?

Armstrong was a very private person. He rarely gave interviews or signed autographs after the Moon landing. He said he was just an engineer doing his job.