The first human to walk on the moon has taken one big step into the great beyond. Neil Armstrong, pilot and first to step off the LEM footpad with the immortal words captured above has passed away:
NBC— Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, died Saturday, weeks after heart surgery and days after his 82nd birthday. His family reported the death at 2:45 p.m. ET. A statement said he died following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. News of Armstrong’s death was first reported by NBC’s Jay Barbree.
Armstrong commanded the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, and he radioed back to Earth the historic news: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.
He has truly seen things you people would not believe.
No one really knows if he saw attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion.
Or even if he watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
But one thing is for sure all the moments he did see will be lost in time… like tears in rain…And it was Neil’s Time to die.
We are diminished, but now we know the way!
We have lost three former astronauts in two months.
First – Alan (Dex) Poindexter – a personal friend of mine and a man who also sought to “give back” to those coming up behind him. He was the Dean of Students at the Naval Postgraduate School.
Second – Sally Ride – A role model for women and an educator, too.
Now – Neil Armstrong, who also “gave back” to younger scientists.
This summer has brought three great losses for mankind.
Sic transit gloria mundi.
Sic transit gloria luna?
We go into the future standing on the shoulders of those who have shown the way, those who have gone before.
Thank you, Neil Armstrong. You have lifted us up. You let us see further horizons. Broader vistas. All humanity suddenly saw farther and could dream higher because of what you accomplished. Go in peace, old friend, with our love and respect. You will be missed but never forgotten.
His lunar footprints will last millennia.
Vale Neil Armstrong. First Man on the Moon, legend, hero of science and engineering, NASA’s best pilot of his age and a durn fine bloke as well by all accounts.
One of humanity’s most significant and remarkable and different of explorers and someone whose name will go down in history alongside Columbus and the Wright brothers and Yuri Gagarin. He – and Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins – wont be forgotten as long as humans write history I’m sure.
Good tribute post here Stephen “DarkSyde” Andrew. Thanks for all the footage recorded before I was even born – and I feel pretty old myself at times these days.
BTW. Good post here :
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2012/08/25/neil-armstrong-1930-2012/
as well. Via the Bad Astronomy blog.
Also for those who haven’t read it, I’d very highly recommend James R.Hansen’s ‘First Man’ official comprehensive and excellent biography of Neil Armstrong’s life as well.
The coverage – range of clips and tributes – here :
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-26/first-man-on-moon-neil-armstrong-dead-at-82/4223190
Via Aussie ABC news – is pretty good too I think.
Hope y’all find tis interesting / informative.