Profile of the Day: Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong

Forty-eight years ago today, astronaut Neil Armstrong made history by becoming the first person to walk on the moon.

On the morning of July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin. It would be NASA’s first manned mission to the Moon.

On July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin landed the lunar module Eagle on the Moon’s surface. The momentous event was broadcasted on live television to audiences around the world. As Armstrong took mankind’s first steps on the lunar surface, he famously described the event as “one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Armstrong and Aldrin would spend a total of 21 hours, 36 minutes on the Moon’s surface. The crew returned to Earth and landed in Pacific Ocean on July 24.

Do you remember watching Armstrong take his first steps on the moon?

Explore Neil Armstrong’s family tree on Geni and share how you’re related!
 

View Neil Armstrong’s Geni Profile

Image: NASA