Neil Armstrong Timeline

(1930 - 2012)

Neil Armstrong (1930–2012) was an American astronaut, naval aviator, test pilot, and aeronautical engineer who became the first person to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969, during NASA's Apollo 11 mission. His famous words, 'That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,' marked a defining moment in human history and the Space Race. More Less

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Early Life and Education

Neil Armstrong is born in Wapakoneta, Ohio

Aug 5, 1930

Neil Alden Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930, near Wapakoneta, Ohio, to Stephen Koenig Armstrong and Viola Louise Engel. He was the eldest of three children, and his family moved frequently during his childhood before settling back in Wapakoneta.

Image source: Neil Armstrong

Takes first airplane ride at age six

Jul 20, 1936

At age six, Armstrong experienced his first airplane flight in a Ford Trimotor, known as the Tin Goose, with his father in Warren, Ohio. This early exposure to aviation sparked a lifelong passion for flying.

Earns student pilot's license before driver's license

Jul 1, 1946

Armstrong began taking flying lessons at the age of 15 and earned his student pilot's license on his 16th birthday in 1946, before he had even learned to drive a car. He flew solo later that same month.

Studies aeronautical engineering at Purdue University

Oct 1, 1947 - Jan 1, 1955

Armstrong enrolled at Purdue University in 1947 under the Holloway Plan, which required two years of study followed by naval service. He completed his bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering in 1955 after returning from military duty.

Image source: Purdue University

Naval and Test Pilot Career

Called to active duty as U.S. Navy aviator

Jan 26, 1949

Armstrong was called to active duty by the U.S. Navy in January 1949. He completed flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola and earned his wings in August 1950, becoming a naval aviator.

Flies combat missions in Korean War

Aug 29, 1951 - Mar 5, 1952

Flying F9F Panther jets from the aircraft carrier USS Essex, Armstrong flew 78 combat missions over Korea. In September 1951, his aircraft was damaged by anti-aircraft fire during a low-altitude bombing run, forcing him to eject safely.

Image source: Korean War

Joins NACA Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory

Mar 1, 1955

After leaving the Navy, Armstrong joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the predecessor of NASA, at its Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio, beginning his career as an experimental research pilot.

Image source: NASA

Transfers to NACA High-Speed Flight Station at Edwards

Jul 1, 1955

Armstrong transferred to the NACA High-Speed Flight Station at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where he worked as an experimental test pilot on cutting-edge aircraft programs.

Image source: Armstrong Flight Research Center

Flies X-15 rocket plane to record altitudes

Nov 30, 1960 - Jul 26, 1962

As a test pilot, Armstrong flew the North American X-15 rocket-powered aircraft seven times, reaching speeds of nearly Mach 5.8 and altitudes above 200,000 feet, contributing valuable data to the American space program.

Image source: North American X-15

NASA Missions

Selected for NASA's second astronaut group

Sep 17, 1962

Armstrong was selected as one of nine pilots in NASA's second astronaut group, known as 'The New Nine,' becoming the first civilian astronaut chosen by NASA. The group included future moonwalkers such as Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell.

Image source: NASA Astronaut Group 2

Serves as backup command pilot for Gemini 5

Aug 21, 1965 - Aug 29, 1965

Armstrong served as backup command pilot for the Gemini 5 mission alongside backup pilot Elliot See, gaining experience in mission operations while supporting Gordon Cooper and Charles Conrad's eight-day endurance flight.

Image source: Gemini 5

Commands Gemini 8, achieving first space docking

Mar 16, 1966 - Mar 17, 1966

Commanding Gemini 8 with pilot David Scott, Armstrong achieved the first docking of two spacecraft in orbit when their capsule linked with an Agena target vehicle. Shortly afterward, a stuck thruster caused a dangerous spin that Armstrong corrected, demonstrating remarkable composure under pressure.

Image source: Gemini 8

Survives Lunar Landing Research Vehicle crash

May 6, 1968

While training at Ellington Air Force Base, Armstrong was forced to eject from the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle just seconds before it crashed and exploded. He escaped with only minor injuries, landing safely by parachute.

Image source: Lunar Landing Research Vehicle

Apollo 11 Moon Landing

Named commander of Apollo 11 mission

Jan 9, 1969

NASA announced that Armstrong would command Apollo 11, joined by lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin and command module pilot Michael Collins. The crew began intensive training for what was planned to be the first attempt at a crewed lunar landing.

Image source: Apollo 11

Apollo 11 launches from Kennedy Space Center

Jul 16, 1969

The Saturn V rocket carrying Apollo 11 lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center at 9:32 a.m. EDT, watched by millions worldwide. The spacecraft entered Earth orbit before heading toward the Moon.

Eagle lands on the Moon in the Sea of Tranquility

Jul 20, 1969

With less than 30 seconds of fuel remaining, Armstrong manually piloted the lunar module Eagle past a boulder field to a safe landing in the Sea of Tranquility at 4:17 p.m. EDT, accomplishing President Kennedy's goal of landing humans on the Moon.

Takes first steps on the Moon

Jul 21, 1969

At 10:56 p.m. EDT on July 20 (02:56 UTC July 21), Armstrong descended the ladder and became the first person to walk on the Moon, famously declaring, 'That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.' He and Aldrin spent about two and a half hours exploring the surface.

Apollo 11 splashes down safely in Pacific Ocean

Jul 24, 1969

After reentering Earth's atmosphere, the Apollo 11 command module Columbia splashed down in the Pacific Ocean about 900 miles southwest of Hawaii. The crew was recovered by the USS Hornet, concluding the historic mission.

Crew undergoes quarantine after lunar mission

Jul 24, 1969 - Aug 10, 1969

To guard against possible lunar pathogens, Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins spent 21 days in quarantine, first aboard the USS Hornet and then at the Lunar Receiving Laboratory in Houston, emerging healthy to worldwide celebration.

Later Life and Legacy

Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

Jul 20, 1969

President Richard Nixon awarded Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, recognizing their extraordinary achievement in space exploration.

Image source: Presidential Medal of Freedom

Embarks on global goodwill tour

Sep 29, 1969 - Nov 5, 1969

Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins toured more than 20 countries on a presidential goodwill tour, meeting world leaders including Queen Elizabeth II and being celebrated as heroes across the globe.

Becomes deputy associate administrator for aeronautics at NASA

May 1, 1970 - Aug 1, 1971

Armstrong took an office position at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., as deputy associate administrator for aeronautics, overseeing research and technology related to aviation before deciding to leave the agency.

Teaches aerospace engineering at University of Cincinnati

Sep 1, 1971 - Jun 1, 1980

Armstrong joined the University of Cincinnati as a professor of aerospace engineering, teaching for nearly a decade while living on a farm in Lebanon, Ohio, and largely avoiding public life.

Image source: University of Cincinnati

Serves on Rogers Commission investigating Challenger disaster

Feb 6, 1986 - Jun 6, 1986

Following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, Armstrong served as vice chairman of the Rogers Commission, helping investigate the accident and recommending changes to NASA's management and safety culture.

Image source: Rogers Commission Report

Appears in TV miniseries 'From the Earth to the Moon'

Apr 5, 1998

Armstrong made a rare media appearance introducing Tom Hanks' HBO miniseries 'From the Earth to the Moon,' which dramatized the Apollo program, reflecting his cautious but supportive relationship with portrayals of his legacy.

Image source: From the Earth to the Moon (miniseries)

Testifies against cancellation of Constellation program

May 12, 2010

Armstrong publicly criticized plans to cancel NASA's Constellation program, testifying before Congress alongside Eugene Cernan that abandoning the return-to-the-Moon plan would be devastating for America's leadership in space.

Image source: Constellation program

Receives Congressional Gold Medal

Nov 16, 2011

Armstrong, along with fellow astronauts John Glenn, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, received the Congressional Gold Medal in a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol honoring the first American astronauts.

Image source: Congressional Gold Medal

Undergoes coronary bypass surgery

Aug 7, 2012

After experiencing cardiovascular symptoms, Armstrong underwent coronary artery bypass surgery at Mercy Health – Fairfield Hospital in Ohio. Complications from the surgery led to his death two weeks later.

Neil Armstrong dies at age 82

Aug 25, 2012

Neil Armstrong died on August 25, 2012, in Cincinnati, Ohio, following complications from his bypass surgery. Tributes poured in from around the world, honoring the humble hero who had taken humanity's first step onto another world.

Image source: Neil Armstrong

Burial at sea ceremony held for Armstrong

Sep 14, 2012

Armstrong's cremated remains were committed to the Atlantic Ocean from the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea during a ceremony attended by family, friends, and Navy personnel, honoring his service as a naval aviator.

Key Facts

Neil Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio, and earned his pilot's license at age 16 before he could legally drive.
He served as a U.S. Navy aviator in the Korean War, flying 78 combat missions before becoming a civilian test pilot for NACA/NASA.
On July 20, 1969, as commander of Apollo 11, Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon, followed by Buzz Aldrin while Michael Collins orbited above.
Before Apollo 11, he survived a near-fatal emergency in 1968 when he safely ejected from the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle just seconds before it crashed.
After leaving NASA in 1971, Armstrong taught aerospace engineering at the University of Cincinnati and lived a relatively private life until his death on August 25, 2012.

Source

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