back to article Neil Armstrong dies aged 82

Neil Armstrong, who famously took a giant leap for mankind when he descended the ladder of Apollo 11's Eagle lander and set boot on the moon, has died. He was 82. Armstrong was a humble man. He was bemused by the fame that came with his achievement, proclaimed himself no more than a "nerdy engineer" and shunned the spotlight …

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  1. The Axe
    Unhappy

    RIP Neil. A real hero.

    I think his ashes should be sent on the next mars mission. MAVEN. Or sent to the moon.

    And it's a pity that he won't get a chance to appear on the Big Bang Theory.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Sitting on my dads knee

      In the early hours of the morning I watched this man take the first steps by man, onto the moon.

      I feel terribly sad.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      If

      If we could do what he did in the 1960's with a computer less powerful than one of today's GCSE calculators why have we not done more?

      He was a spokesman for his generation.

      1. Destroy All Monsters Silver badge
        Holmes

        Re: If

        Evidently because it's about physical power, not computational power.

        The NERVA is still in the hangar.

      2. Field Marshal Von Krakenfart
        Unhappy

        Re: If

        If we could do what he did in the 1960's with a computer less powerful than one of today's GCSE calculators why have we not done more?

        Sadly, the political will to do more does not exist, the main motivation was not scientific goals, but a political goal to beat the Russians. America went to the moon by sending 0.5% of its national budget at a time when it was spending 7% of it's national making Vietnam looking like the moon. Imagine what mankind could have been achieved if the spending was the other way around.

        There now only 8 men left alive of the 12 who have walked on the moon, hopefully mankind will get back to the moon or Mars before that experience passes from living memory.

        Like a lot of people here Neil was one of my heroes, as a 10 year old I was allowed to stay up to 3AM to watch him take those famous steps, I remember that we all went outside and looked up at the moon in awe of the fact that there were two men standing on the moon at that very moment. I am sad to hear that he has passed away

        It may have been a small step for man, but what big shoes for anyone to fill.

        "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.

        Docked with the Agena in orbit around the Earth.

        I've watched the Earth glitter in the dark from the Sea of Tranquillity.

        All those ... moments will be lost in time, like tears...in rain.

        Time to die.

        RIP Neil.

        1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
          Unhappy

          Re: If

          "America went to the moon by sending 0.5% of its national budget at a time when it was spending 7% of it's national making Vietnam looking like the moon. "

          Incorrect. In the 1960's NASA took 5.5% of the US GDP to get to the Moon in less than 8 years.

          *today* NASA receives <0.5% of the US GDP. Things were different back then.

          The roughly 9 fold difference in funding *might* explain NASA's rather slow progress through the Constellation programme.

          It would be a nice gesture if the first lander from *any* nation to return to the moon was called "Armstrong" in recognition of his achievement but I doubt it will happen.

          1. Field Marshal Von Krakenfart
            Headmaster

            Re: If

            Seems both of us are wrong according to this:-

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_of_NASA,

            and this:-

            Table 15.1—TOTAL GOVERNMENT RECEIPTS IN ABSOLUTE AMOUNTS AND AS PERCENTAGES OF GDP: 1948–2007

            NASA's budget peeked in1966 @4.4%, in 1969 when Aldrin walked on the moon it had reduced to 2.31% of budget while in the 1960's the military budget floated between 8% and 10% of GDP

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      He would

      He would hate all this attention, he would hate all this fawning over his death, especially all the flowery faux emotional prose written by people who want to get on the 'I will miss you' band wagon.

      You'd know that if you'd met the man.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: He would

        "He would hate all this attention, he would hate all this fawning over his death, especially all the flowery faux emotional prose written by people who want to get on the 'I will miss you' band wagon."

        I have to agree anyone who says they'll miss him and has never even met him, grr, I can imagine my Facebook wall tomorrow is going to be full of that crap.

        That said, I'm a firm believer in the greatness of our species, that we're capable of great things and Neil Armstrong is partially responsible for that belief. He proved it (along with everyone else involved.) He is one of 12 people in the history of an entire species to have walked on the Moon. To get there, he sat in a small metal box on top of what was essentially a giant bomb. That took some serious balls, many people won't even ride a roller coaster.

        Whether he thought he deserved praise or not, it cannot be denied that he has touched millions and inspired as many more; his death will be felt worldwide.

        1. Dave Bell

          Re: He would

          He is worth remembering.

          Sometimes the conventional language is so inadequate.

          He took his one small step. And now he has taken his own giant leap.

        2. Andrew Moore

          Re: He would

          Agreed- regardless of whether you met him or not, that doesn't diminish the fact that he was truly inspirational.

          1. Tom 35

            Re: He would

            I wonder how many kids went on to Science, or Engineering because of what they witnessed that day on fuzzy black and white TV.

      2. miknik
        Alien

        Re: He would

        He would also probably be quick to point out he was at the top of a pyramid of thousands of people who were responsible for getting him to the moon. His humility always endeared him to me.

        That said, you have to have mighty big balls to do what he did, knowing you may end up stuck there. He may have been a nerd, but what a nerd he was.

        RIP

        1. Eddy Ito
          Pint

          Re: He would

          Simply amazing, he was a guy who just did it. Briefly, he was co-pilot of a B-29 while dropping a D558 Skyrocket, flew a Bell X1B and drove the X-15 to 4,500 mph at 200K+ feet it only seems natural he was the first to plant his boots on the moon. To say he was just doing his job doesn't cut it. It amazes me every time I hear his voice, "it's almost like a powder" as if he is describing the snow at the top of the ski lift on any other Monday morning. There is no cucumber with more cool. He was on the moon and going to work. A master of understatement, he took "one" small step without consideration of his many other small steps that were equally giant leaps for mankind. Cheers.

      3. Michael H.F. Wilkinson Silver badge

        Re: He would

        I have never had the privilege to meet the man, but aged seven I did successfully nag my parents to let me see the fuzzy image of Neil Armstrong stepping off that ladder. It was one of the things that set me off in a career of science (first astronomy, now computer science). I have seen many interviews with the man, and always appreciated his modesty. I will not miss Neil Armstrong at a personal level, because we never met. The personal loss is that of his family and friends. However, at this point it is fitting to express what a role model he was, both professionally, and as a human being. As his family stated to the press:

        "The next time you look up and see the Moon smiling down at you,give it a wink and think of Neil".

        That is the best monument to a modest, but great man.

      4. TeeCee Gold badge
        Happy

        Re: He would

        Humble or not, one day he's getting the biggest bloody statute that anyone's ever had erected in their memory and it will remind us all of his contribution forever (or as near as makes no odds).

        On the moon, next to the 11 landing site of course.

        1. Thomas 4

          Re: He would

          It says a lot that even in his later years, he was still trying to shake Congress out of its apathy towards space exploration.

    4. BillG
      Thumb Up

      A Real Hero

      > RIP Neil. A real hero.

      Best way to sum it up.

      Thanks, Neil. Thanks for inspiring me, thanks for inspiring a generation.

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    He deserves a burial on the Moon. NASA, think it.

    NASA should send is coffin to the Moon, nearby the Apollo 11 landing site.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: He deserves a burial on the Moon. NASA, think it.

      Do you really think he would want that? He was an unassuming man, he never saw it as anything else other than doing his job.

    2. JeffyPooh
      Pint

      Re: He deserves a burial on the Moon. NASA, think it.

      'Ashes scattered in an undisclosed location' would be more in his style; but I hope not. I hope his remains are placed somewhere where I can eventually (years later, when my visit won't bother the family) drop by to pay my respects.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: He deserves a burial on the Moon. NASA, think it.

        I suspect he'd want his remains somewhere that his nearest and dearest could visit if they wanted.

        Aldrin probably wants to be buried on the moon, in about 25 years from now.

  3. ChrisM
    Unhappy

    End of an era?

    The pioneers of space travel are dying one-by-one and what do we have to show for it... Tawdry celebrity shws and patent battles where both sides are equally culpable.

    We have squandered the legacy of great men. Instead of standing on the shoulders of giants we are hunting between the legs of midgets for spare change.

    1. That Awful Puppy
      Meh

      Re: End of an era?

      Don't know whether I should upvote you for agreeing with you or downvote you for being so disgusted with the world you describe.

    2. TeeCee Gold badge
      Unhappy

      Re: End of an era?

      This says it all: http://xkcd.com/893/

  4. h4rm0ny

    RIP, Neil Armstrong.

    First person on the moon. Showed us what we could achieve as a species when we put our minds to it. No greater achievement than to make us realize our potential. Thank you, Neil.

  5. That Awful Puppy
    Unhappy

    Farewell.

  6. Johan Bastiaansen
    Pint

    The heroes of our youth...

    Are dying one by one.

    I'll drink one in his honor tonight.

    1. hplasm
      Pint

      Re: The heroes of our youth...

      And one from me,

      Thanks Neil,from all mankind, and Mr Gorsky in particular.

      Here's to Armstrong Base, Mars,

    2. JeffyPooh
      Pint

      Re: The heroes of our youth...

      It's happening because we're in our 50s. Simple math.

  7. John Miles
    Unhappy

    Probably mankind's greatest adventure

    is slowly passing from living memory and all too soon all we'll have is recordings of the experience of a man stepping on another world.

    Rest in peace

    1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge
      Alien

      Re: Probably mankind's greatest adventure

      Depends on what you mean by "we". If by "we" you mean humankind, I suspect there will Chinese on the moon in the next couple of decades, so "we" will be there again.

      "We came in peace for all mankind"

      1. JDX Gold badge

        Re: Probably mankind's greatest adventure

        Well "we" as Brits haven't been there in the first place. (Have we, it's possible I am having a brain-fart?)

        1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge
          Coat

          Re: Probably mankind's greatest adventure

          Well "we" as Brits haven't been there in the first place. (Have we, it's possible I am having a brain-fart?)

          Cavorite!!

  8. tkioz
    Pint

    May Humanity remember his words and deeds for as long as the Moon shines above us.

    Time to share a beer with Yuri in heaven Neil.

  9. Da Weezil
    Pint

    A giant is taken from amongst us

    Despite the fact that I rarely drink I too will uncap an ale and raise a glass to a man who was part of an amazing era, when mankind progressed and explored.

    So sad that as a society we seem to have lost the sense of vision and adventure that sent brave yet modest men out to explore beyond the natural boundaries of our species in what were really such primitive craft. We now inhabit a world of shallow pleasures and petty squabbles and are far poorer for it.

    Farewell Neil Armstrong, you leave behind generations that are not worthy of you. Thank you for helping make my childhood so exciting and awe inspiring - along with your NASA colleagues.

  10. kissingthecarpet
    Go

    Here's hoping

    they go to Mars in my lifetime (so there's not long left). Imagine that moment when they walk on Mars & the effect it'll have on a generation. I'll never forget the Moon landing that's for sure.

  11. kparsons84

    Cover-Up

    Well done Mr Armstrong on going along with the 'Moon Landing' hoax right until your death. Congratulations on a fantastic job.

    1. This post has been deleted by its author

    2. Adrian Taylor

      Re: Cover-Up

      so how long have you suffered from these delusional thoughts ?

    3. Zombie Womble
      Megaphone

      Pissing on the achievements of great men.

      Is that how you get your jollies?

      Does it help you feel less the pathetic failure you obviously are?

      I have news for you, it isn't working.

      Now fuck off back to your hoaxer crazy pit where you belong.

    4. Andrew Moore

      Re: Cover-Up

      Don't feed the troll.

    5. Graham Dawson Silver badge
      Mushroom

      Re: Cover-Up

      They sent that great big rocket up, where the hell do you think they went if not the moon?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Cover-Up @Graham Dawson

        http://xkcd.com/1074/

    6. CmdrX3

      You sir...

      ..are a moron of the highest degree. You are a simple nobody who has done nothing noteworthy to be remembered for. Like most of us, you will die and be forgotten by all but the few who may happen to care about you. Whether you in your complete stupidity believe he didn't go to the moon will make no difference to history for THAT is what he will be remembered for long after your headstone has crumbled back to dust.

      You are what is known as a sad pathetic little conspiracy nut... Enjoy your epitaph to your life.

      1. Yet Another Commentard

        Re: You sir...

        Re; CmdrX3

        Perhaps Kparsons84 epitaph should be simply "a man of whom even Winston Churchill said 'Who?'".

        For Mr Armstrong, no comment is worthy. A few moments quiet reflection on the passing of another of my childhood heroes and a simple curiosity of why there seem to be no more of them will do for me.

        <silence, respectful silence>

    7. Peter Johnstone

      Re: Cover-Up

      @kparsons84 You're entitled to your view, and I'm all for freedom of speech, but a bit of a common sense and decency should have told you that this was not the time to express it. The man has just died FFS.

    8. PassiveSmoking
      FAIL

      Re: Cover-Up

      I suppose it was only a matter of time before the morons started crawling out of the woodwork. The fact that it was Apollo 11 must have made it difficult for you, to count that high you'd have to take a shoe off.

  12. Neil Barnes Silver badge
    Pint

    RIP Neil

    My grandfather was born before man flew a powered plane, and died after you walked on the moon.

    I was around to watch you make that walk; something I will always remember.

    Kudos and rest in peace. It's been a fun century.

  13. beast666
    Go

    I'll sink a few for Neil tonight

    Saw this bad news after being out on a job to fix some lady's WiFi woes and bringing up the BBC news site to confirm all was fixed... I was quite upset tbh and the lady seemed to recognise the passing a true pioneer too...

    RIP Neil Armstrong, you are my hero and certainly were made of The Right Stuff.

    Does anyone else remember a Discovery Channel series featuring Neil back in the day when he'd just jump into any plane and then do all sorts of mental (and it looked, v. dangerous) stuff in it??? What a guy!

  14. Efros

    I wonder

    How many of my generation (50ish) were influenced by this man and his contemporaries. I remember getting up in the middle of the night to watch the lunar landings in July of 1969, I also know that society at that time was probably more pro science that at any time before or since. It certainly affected my choice of subjects at school and my chosen academic path and ultimately profession. He will be sadly missed, a brave, modest and intelligent man, qualities that are rare let alone to be found in one individual. When asked about his relative lack of exercise when compared to his fellow astronauts Neil Armstrong said, "I believe God gave us all a limited number of heart beats,and I will be damned if I use mine up running up and down the street."

  15. Destroy All Monsters Silver badge
    Stop

    Stop with the angst already and go watch 2001 or something.

    Nothing relating to the "Conquest of Space" in decline or has been lost!

    There was a single good reason for "going to the moon" - it was a prestige object. That's why money poured in and the expedition could be performed.

    As no independent economic reason exists to perform a repeat performance, repeat performances won't be had.

    Meanwhile, we have excellent stuff like the Tevatron and the LHC, Hubble, robots on Mars and generally all over the Solar System (as we are talking about publicly funded projects). Sure, I would like to see more, but notice that 3 trillion dollars have not yet been paid for oilseizing, Israelsaving and welfare programs in the 'tans, and we are already talking about the next, bigger war with Persia, so I'm not getting my hopes up for THAT.

    For those of you having melancholy pangs, may I recall that the times of the "moon race" were also the times where the US thought it expedient to kill a few million rice peasants, going so far as to fuck up their DNA forever with hardcore chemical weapons for which other countries would have gotten a nuclear death sentence (and they still give a fuck about that). It was also the time Nixon went off the gold standard because he couldn't pay for the war, thus letting loose the joyride of wealth transfer and MIC growth whose train is now pulling into the station.

    1. Waspy

      Re: Stop with the angst already and go watch 2001 or something.

      Can't you just stop whinging and pay tribute to a great man?

      Do what Neil always did and say the right things at the right time

      1. Destroy All Monsters Silver badge
        WTF?

        Re: Stop with the angst already and go watch 2001 or something.

        I'm saying the right things RIGHT. EFFING. NOW.

        Whence the "great man"? He was some dude in the Air Force on an admittedly dangerous trip to the Moon.

        Sanctimonious bourgoise attitude? NOPE.

        1. Fibbles

          Re: Stop with the angst already and go watch 2001 or something.

          And Columbus was just a guy who couldn't find his way to Asia.

          How about you show some respect. This man did what we've all dreamed we could do. Step foot on another world*.

          * Fuck off with your semantics.

        2. Turtle

          Re: Stop with the angst already and go watch 2001 or something.

          "Sanctimonious bourgoise attitude?"

          Precisely.

        3. Waspy

          Re: Stop with the angst already and go watch 2001 or something.

          if you're going to be a pedantic prick then at least get it right, Neil Armstrong was never in the Air Force, he was in the United States Navy before becoming a test pilot for NACA and then joining NASA. Yes Armstrong himself never saw his first step being anything other than just doing his job, BUT THAT IS ONE OF THE MANY REASONS WHY HE WAS A GREAT MAN. Show some fucking respect.

          RIP Neil Armstrong

        4. Andus McCoatover
          Windows

          Re: Stop with the angst already and go watch 2001 or something.

          He wasn't "Some dude in the (US) Air force". He was a civilian at the time.

      2. I. Aproveofitspendingonspecificprojects

        Do what Neil always did and say the right things at the right time

        Do what Neil always did and smack a 2@ right in the kisser at the right time.

        Still had the right stuff facing a much younger and larger opponent. Didn't even pause.

        1. Waspy

          Re: Do what Neil always did and say the right things at the right time

          Huh? I think you have Neil Armstrong confused with Buzz Aldrin. Buzz smacked conspiracy nut Bart Sibrel in the jaw: http://youtu.be/1wcrkxOgzhU . The judge threw the case out when Sibriel had the cheek to try and sue Aldrin.

          Funny as it was watching a Sibrel get the shit smacked out of him by a man forty years his senior, Neil Armstrong was however far more diplomatic about idiots like Sibrel. In his last interview he simply said:

          "People love conspiracy theories...I mean, they are very attractive. But it was never a concern to me because I know one day, somebody is going to go fly back up there and pick up that camera I left."

          Just shows perfectly the humility and humour of the man I think.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Stop with the angst already and go watch 2001 or something.

      I don't think people here are so blinded by the achievement that they are unable to see the downside of the system that put him on the moon.

      What this thread is about is expressing admiration for someone who had the balls to step out into the cold where no-one had gone before, and who had the humility to treat it as just'a day at the office'. That humility probably undercut any desire to use the moon landings as proof of the glory and dominance of the American Way.

      So, I can think of no finer accolade than the immortal words quoted by others here : What a guy!

  16. ElNumbre
    Unhappy

    Not just an American Hero

    He wasn't just an American Hero - he was a hero for the world. Adventurous, courageous, inspirational, but also humble, we could all learn something from him.

    Sad face tonight.

  17. jason 7
    Pint

    One totally dedicated cool customer.

    Everyone should be lucky enough to work alongside someone like that.

    Unfortunately......

  18. David 45

    An inspiration

    I was one of many who were glued to their TV, watching the almost unbelievable spectacle of a somewhat primitive craft (although we didn't know it at the time) taking a 240,000 mile trip to the moon and actually making a successful landing. Quite amazing what us humans can do if pushed and it's obvious that Neil Armstrong was definitely made of "the right stuff". How that man could have remained so modest is beyond me. A true hero and an adventurer to the final frontier. My sympathies to his family.

  19. 4ecks
    Unhappy

    Respect

    One of my personal heroes, a man who truly had courage running through his veins.

    I am sorry that we have not built upon the great foundations he and his ilk laid for us,

    Mankind appears to have stumbled upon taking the giant leap, and is now scrabbling around in the dust instead of striding confidently toward the stars.

    It's a shame that we're now so dumbed-down that raising generations inspired by "X-Factor" instead of "The Right Stuff" is the future.

    1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge
      Paris Hilton

      Re: Respect

      It's a shame that we're now so dumbed-down that raising generations inspired by "X-Factor" instead of "The Right Stuff" is the future.

      I don't think things have changed that much. Millions were glued to Opportunity Knocks or The Gong Show back then. And people still voted for crap.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgYYEGcySHg

      He won 6 weeks in a row FFS.

      Paris, because there will always be dumb people.

      My parents knew that seeing a man on the moon was an historic event. I was 4 and they woke me up to see it happen live. A never to be forgotten moment in my life.

  20. JeffyPooh
    Pint

    Really. Really. Good. Pilot.

    Reading about his several hair-raising adventures when his cool nerve and skills saved the mission and/or his life makes it clear that he was a really really good pilot. It was luck of the draw that he happened to be First Man, but his skill made the Apollo 11 landing happen.

    Regarding the hoaxers, about 30% of the population are crazy. Nothing we can solve here.

  21. zen1

    sigh

    I remember watching the landing of Apollo 11 live. I was 5 years old but I still remember the images vividly. I watched every televised rocket and shuttle launch, until the TV networks couldn't be bothered to carry real historical events live, unless it was a tragedy or something. I felt a sense of pride when our Astronauts made the headlines and I cheered the Soviet Cosmonauts when they launched and safely launded.

    As Mr. Armstrong said on that day, "... a giant leap for mankind". Every journy into space, no matter what country or countries are involved, is another leap for mankind. Who would have guessed that only 66 years after powered flight, we would be launching animals, men and women into the heavens, thousands of miles above us.

    After my father, Neil Armstrong was a hero of mine. Also like my late father, you will be missed but never forgotten by any who knew you or of your accomplishments. God speed and good tailwinds

  22. Bad Beaver

    RIP

    Goodbye, Neil.

  23. defiler

    A humble man who only wanted to teach

    He was one of those people who had greatness thrust upon them. From what I understand, be was never comfortable with that greatness, and only really wanted to be allowed to be a man. It's probably worth remembering at this point that not only will a world remember his passing, but he'll be mourned personally by his family and friends. My sympathies to them, and I hope their personal tragedy won't become some media circus.

  24. This post has been deleted by its author

  25. Herby

    The new space race...

    Will those who have experience on the moon (a previous post indicated that there are 8 of the 12 left) die off before we return?

    Right now the experience dying off is ahead in the battle, which is a real shame.

    Me? I consider myself lucky to have at least shaken the hand of the third man who landed on the moon. Pete Conrad was a VERY interesting guy. A little more flamboyant than Neil, but still an interesting guy!

  26. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Good thing Apple wasn't around back then. Neil wouldn't have gone to the moon when he did.

    1. beast666
      Thumb Down

      No Samsung/Apple

      Behave yourself... Don't bring down this thread to something utterly shite, We are respecting a great man, not fanboying our fav companies.

  27. Aussie Brusader
  28. Eddy Ito
    Pint

    So long Neil

    I'd have preferred to drink this with you. RIP

  29. Will Godfrey Silver badge

    I had great respect for the man. He was a true engineer, a problem solver. We don't seem to have so many of them these days.

    As for the idiots dissing the team, they are not even worth the effort of clicking the downvote button.

    "What shall we do with the mean, sniping, shadows of men? Why, we shall do nothing; for they are as straw in the wind. Unremembered."

    R.I.P. Neil. You'll be fondly remembered for a long, long time.

  30. andre 2

    Well our duty is now clear

    To place Neil Armstrong's ashes on Mars, during the first manned mission.

    Hopefully this will happen sooner rather than later, if NASA joins forces with the Chinese and Russian space agencies for a joint mission in the spirit of international cooperation.

    -Andre

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Well our duty is now clear

      Shouldn't our duty to be to know and respect his wishes in that regard? I'd have thought it more likely that he'd want to be buried near family, though I have no idea what he actually wanted.

    2. Thorne

      Re: Well our duty is now clear

      "To place Neil Armstrong's ashes on Mars, during the first manned mission."

      I'm sure the Chinese will have room in their carry on luggage

  31. Plonkybear
    Unhappy

    What a guy.

    nuff said

  32. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Hero

    One of many heroes who got me into Tech and Science and a modest, publicity-shy guy to boot.

    For the conspiracy theorists and naysayers - here's a response from Buzz Aldrin

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7KgdehBBsw

  33. Paratrooping Parrot
    Unhappy

    I wasn't born until after Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. I have seen footage of the walk when the BBC had their programmes on the moon a few years back. It is amazing to think that only about 70 years after achieving the first flight, people were able to go on the moon and come back.

    Imagine what would have happened if governments did not spend much of our tax money on wars. Instead spend it on helping others and advancing the exploration of space and science. Neil would have been around to see people on Mars. I watched the programme on Neil Armstrong on the BBC and it was rather fascinating to see just how much he wanted to live a normal life, despite being the first human on the moon. Nowadays people will just milk the fact that they slept with a footballer and other ridiculous claims to fame.

  34. Anonymous Coward
    Angel

    How famous can a real person get?

    Most people all over the world can't remember the names of the Egyptian and Greek Gods etc. But they all know Neil. In 4000 years AD they'll still know Neil. I wonder how many people will know that guy Jesus that so many worship today, even though the year is linked to his death, I think.

    Neil was a very special man. It should have been me, but they wouldn't send 2 year olds.

  35. Mr_Pitiful

    RIP

    If he did go to the moon then wow what a achievement!

    If he didn't go then wow what a photo shoot

  36. Zebo-the-Fat
    Unhappy

    Almost Famous!

    I never walked on the moon, never will... but I met a man who stood on the foot of the man who walked on the moon! This guy walked out of a hotel room in the US and stood on the foot of a guy walking past... Mr N. Armstrong!

  37. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Stop

    Why are people all up about this? the man did nothing of importance. The moon landings lead to nothing and all he did was sit on top of a rocket to the moon and then leave it. A monkey could have done it. He did nothing and achieved nothing. No matter how much people want the moon landings to be something huge it wasent. It could have been but that never happened.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Stop

      Never have "coward" and "anonymous" been more appropriately used together.

    2. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

      Re: Stop

      True the moon landings weren't down to him, there were 100s of navy or airforce pilots who could have flown the mission sucessfully - but it was a long way from being a payload on a rocket. Read "how apollo flew to the moon" for a detailed technical account.

      The only thing that could be said against the generation of apollo pilots is that it left a legacy of astronaut=hero which meant that later crews were still being chosen from the ranks of combat/test pilots instead of scientists. And biased Nasa in favour of projects like the space shuttle which could be flown by 'real' pilots

    3. Chris Miller
      Trollface

      Re: Stop

      Neil Armstrong gained an engineering degree, flew fighters in Korea, flew the X15 into space at Mach 6, rescued a failing Gemini mission and performed a manual landing on the moon before he was 40. What have you done with your life, apart from post trolling comments?

    4. IglooDude

      Re: Stop

      Aside from anything else, a monkey would have let Eagle splat itself on a boulder. However, a monkey could have typed what you just posted, pity it was just a troll instead.

    5. Richard Altmann
      Thumb Down

      Re: Stop

      Crawl back beneath your stone and stay there

  38. Andus McCoatover
    Windows

    Gemini VIII, anyone?

    Armstrong calmly piloted that mission out of certain disaster. That, I understand is why they chose him for Apollo 11. He could keep his head. Even the Apollo 11 mission was precarious - manually landing with 20 sec. of fuel left, because the (computer-controlled) chosen landing site wasn't suitable - boulders - or having the ingenuity after their mission on the moon was complete, to simply stick a pen into the switch to fire the exit motor, as one of them had knocked the switch's dolly off when exiting Eagle?*

    I really, really wish I had met the man. There aren't many of those giants left nowadays.

    *They could've reprogrammed the switches, I understand, but Collins would have to have gone round again, timing, etc.

  39. Pet Peeve
    Pint

    "Just a nerdy engineer" my ass

    If there was ever anyone who was the prototype for having the right stuff, it was Neil Armstrong. He survived a malfunction in gemini 8 - a thruster got stuck open right after docking with an Agena booster, throwing the whole spacecraft into a 60rpm spin, and he did the only possible thing that could have saved the spacecraft, totally on his own, while any lesser "nerdy engineer" would have crapped their pants and passed out.

    And then a lunar lander simulator tried VERY hard to kill him, and he survived that too.

    And then during the actual landing, the landing coordinates would have put the LEM on top of a boulder, and with Aldrin's help, he found a perfect landing spot with almost no fuel remaining.

    Armstrong is a hero of all humanity. It will be a long time before we see his like again. Rest in Peace.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: "Just a nerdy engineer" my ass

      I wanted to 'up' your post a thousand times but the system only takes one...

  40. JeffyPooh
    Pint

    12 on the Moon, 24 to the Moon

    Personally I also have a great deal of respect for The Other Dozen; the twelve that went all the way to the Moon but didn't land. People like Mike Collins for example.

    Background for those interested:

    9 manned flights to the Moon: Apollo 8, 10 to 17

    Apollo 8 was Xmas orbit of Moon

    Apollo 9 was Earth orbit test of LM

    Apollo 10 was dress rehearsal down to 50,000 feet

    3 seats per flight, 27 seats to the Moon (incl CM)

    3 repeats: Lovel (8,13), Young (10,16), Cernan (10,17)

    Lovel went to Moon twice never landed

    Lovel probably furthest human from Earth ever (other two pressed against near window)

    24 humans visited the Moon (in orbit or walking)

    12 humans walked on the Moon

    Young and Cernan had the best deal - 2 trips, long duration, rovers

    Both Young and Cernan are very cool cats.

    Moon project in ten years now impossible, due to modern "Project Management" techniques.

    Some of those PM techniques came from Apollo, but now stupified.

    We'll not be on Mars for about 25 years from now. Hopeless.

  41. SwedishCodeMaffia

    A man of The right stuff

    Safe travels, commander

  42. Anonymous Coward
    Unhappy

    Reluctant or not ...

    ... the man was a hero long before the term was worn to paper-thinness. Indeed, not just a hero of his time but for all time.

    If there is an afterlife, then I reckon that there could be some interesting conversations between Armstrong and Gagarin.

    Rest In Peace.

  43. Richard Altmann

    Sir, you made

    A giant´s leap for a small step in mankind

    RIP

  44. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    To the people saying he was nothing special

    You are right.

    The Armstrong family has requested that anyone who wants to Honour Neil Armstrong do so by following his example, which can be summarised as doing your best and not being selfish. Neil was just an ordinary man doing an extraordinary job to the best of his ability without seeking glory or fame. That in itself makes him rare. Let's not cheapen his legacy with a fifty foot marble statue on Ganymede and a burger chain named after him on Pluto.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Thumb Up

      Re: To the people saying he was nothing special

      Quite so - a statement from his family concludes:

      For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.

  45. Kharkov

    RIP Neil Armstrong.

    Modest, but he did what we all dream of.

  46. virhunter
    Pint

    Not gonna say I miss him

    because I never met him. My own feelings about this (even now) are mostly a mix of admiration and envy. He lived longer than most humans on this planet can expect to and in that life he did things none of us will ever do. And he did some of those things riding a several-ton bomb, while many people are still afraid of flying.

    If you never met him personally, please don't tell the world about how you miss him. The more honest thing to do would be to drink to him.

  47. This post has been deleted by its author

  48. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    RIP Neil

    He was a great mean, and will be remembered for the amazing achievement of being the first man on the moon, it may have been the luck of the draw that put him in the pilot seat, but his is the name we all remember when we think of the moon landings.

    I think its also the right occasion to say RIP to all the unmentioned heroes who made Apollo a success, the engineers and the scientists that built the thing!

    I will be having a few pints later in honour of Neil & all those involved in Apollo who have passed away unmentioned.

  49. Spoonsinger
    Pint

    Sad,

    but definitely inspirational.

    (Ok for the bit for the neg's. When I first heard the the chatter, (back in the day), between mission control and the 'team', I envisioned tech people who spoke English with just slightly different accents. Listening to the re-broadcasts during this sad event, they all sound like mid west farmers chatting over the mechanics of a combine harvester. Weird.)

    Beer anyway.

  50. Predator

    Greatest engineering feat and scientific achievement of the last century. RIP

  51. Graham Wilson
    Unhappy

    For us baby boomers, this sad event makes us feel old.

    As with the assassination of Kennedy, anyone old enough to remember Armstrong and buddies on the moon knows exactly where they were at the time.

    As with most students, I took the afternoon off from university and went home to my grandmother's place where I was living at the time and I watched the landing transfixed on an old HMV B&W 21" TV set.

    Events like this are never forgotten.

    For us baby boomers, this sad event makes us feel very old.

  52. AncientBriton

    No title grand enough for this man

    I have this mental picture of a classroom several thousand years from now with the teacher asking the kids for three famous names from the second millennium. I suspect the answers will be something like Columbus, Einstein and Armstrong.

  53. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    What about

    Tesla?

    Tesla did more for science than anyone else in recent history, despite his habit for "going off at the deep end" much of his earlier work was absolutely crucial for power distribution and generation.

    ##AC

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