I know that, whenever I see the moon, only one word will come to my mind for the rest of my life.
Armstrong.
RIP Neil Armstrong: The reluctant American hero
Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, died aged 82 on Saturday after complications from heart surgery. One of the few photos showing Neil Armstrong during the Apollo 11 moonwalk Armstrong on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission The American astronaut and ace test pilot - born on 5 August, 1930 in Ohio - was …
-
Tuesday 28th August 2012 11:15 GMT That Awful Puppy
I has a sad
Farewell.
--------------------------------
How did we go from a species with a space race to a species with a gadget race?
I swear to G-d, if Elon Musk went on Kickstarter* to sell shares in a space exploration company, I'd pledge every last bit of my meagre disposable income, despite knowing full well that I'd probably never see any return on those shares.
*It would have to be a foundation or something, not a public company with shares traded on the open market, in order to prevent it from being taken over by big greedy investors who just want PROFIT NOW!, rather than being interested in a long-term goal.
-
Tuesday 28th August 2012 12:54 GMT Anonymous Coward
Re: I has a sad
It's not that different.
It's all just a bit of willy waving, back then it was just trying to get a one up on those darn commies,
"I swear to G-d, if Elon Musk went on Kickstarter* to sell shares in a space exploration company, I'd pledge every last bit of my meagre disposable income"
Err....You mean something like SpaceX?
-
Tuesday 28th August 2012 15:23 GMT Anonymous Coward
Obligatory XKCD, etc
Not so entertaining.
As for the whole "species with a gadget race" thing... well. The US space program doesn't look as exciting as it once did, but China and India are terribly keen to get up there. They certainly have the will, and in due course they'll have the means, too. Bit of a shame that the only people willing to head for the stars will be doing it over the bodies of their fellow citizens.
-
-
Tuesday 28th August 2012 11:26 GMT Callam McMillan
One of the greats who'll be missed
When you think of space, nobodies first thought is of say, the Voyager missions, which have arguably delivered more scientific knowledge than the Apollo missions. Everybody thinks of Neil Armstrong and his crew and their exploits on the moon. I thought it funny that he described himself as a "Nerdy Engineer" which isn't bad considering he ranks alongside footballers on the career wish-list of most six year olds!
-
Wednesday 29th August 2012 07:48 GMT Michael H.F. Wilkinson
I remember well
that in the queen's birthday parade in my home town in Groningen, the Netherlands, in 1970, so many boys were dressed as astronauts. I was one of them. Nothing trumped astronaut for cool as a kid. I am glad my kids got a glimmer of that excitement as they followed the exploits of Andre Kuipers in the ISS. They are now also considering astronaut as a career.
May there forever be nerdy engineers to follow in those famous footsteps on the moon, and beyond. Let's raise a glass to that.
-
Tuesday 28th August 2012 11:39 GMT Smallbrainfield
I love the fact he did all that awesome stuff
and to him it was just his job. And the fact he didn't make a massive song and dance about it, though I suppose most astronauts have to be pretty cool customers.
It's still amazing to think we've been so far and so sad to think we stopped and never went any further.
-
Tuesday 28th August 2012 12:04 GMT Drem
Full statement from Neil Armstrong's family
I'm really sad that you didn't put in the full statement from his family. The last paragraph is particuarly nice.
FAMILY STATEMENT REGARDING THE DEATH OF NEIL ARMSTRONG
WASHINGTON -- The following is a statement from the Armstrong family regarding the death of former test pilot and NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong. He was 82.
“We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures.
Neil was our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.
Neil Armstrong was also a reluctant American hero who always believed he was just doing his job. He served his Nation proudly, as a navy fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut. He also found success back home in his native Ohio in business and academia, and became a community leader in Cincinnati.
He remained an advocate of aviation and exploration throughout his life and never lost his boyhood wonder of these pursuits.
As much as Neil cherished his privacy, he always appreciated the expressions of good will from people around the world and from all walks of life.
While we mourn the loss of a very good man, we also celebrate his remarkable life and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves.
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.”
-
Tuesday 28th August 2012 13:35 GMT mike2R
RIP
The Economist's obituary put it quite well I think: "it is one of the few events of the 20th century that stands any chance of being widely remembered in the 30th. "
So true. In a thousand years the heroes and villains of the last century will be almost unknown. You can imagine names like "Hitler" being almost unknown outside of historians who specialise in the period.
Not "Neil Armstrong" though. As long as there is a human race that remembers its history, children will learn that name, and they'll go outside on a clear night, and shut one eye, and use their thumb to block out the moon. And they'll think of Neil Armstrong all those years ago, doing the same thing in reverse.
-
Tuesday 28th August 2012 18:47 GMT Stevie
Ah Damn.
The world is smaller again, and another piece of The Dream is gone forever.
Well Done that man. I would have liked to meet you but I wouldn't have intruded on your well-known desire for privacy. The world needs more people like you and those who helped put you on the moon. It's not about skills or ability (though they do help), it's about vision.
People will whine about "just a stunt", which is correct if you insist on viewing the program through the eyes of a politician. I prefer the view through the eyes of the engineers and astronauts, who were opening a new frontier, something we could use about now.
Unfortunately, opening such challenging frontiers takes time and money. The public has a short attention span and is notoriously tight-fisted, and the politicians whose job it is to loosen the grip on the purse strings are venal and have a four year problem horizon.
It's sad that we took all that achievement and focused inward again, on saucepans and watches and phones that fit in a large pocket and cause millions in litigation but cannot provide a satisfactory connection between me and my parents so we can talk. I heard you clearer from the moon in '69 than I hear my mum speaking from Alberta, a comparative stone's throw away.
That small step is by any objective assessment a high point in human achievement, arguably *the* high point to date, and serves as a signpost: look, it's possible. Now do it again, better.
Nice one, Mr Armstrong. Life well-lived.
RIP.
-
Tuesday 28th August 2012 19:10 GMT Dan Paul
RIP Mr. Armstrong
I was 12 years old when you walked on the moon and it still stands as one of the most memorable days in my life. You and your compatriots changed the world that day, giants standing on the shoulders of many, reaching to touch the very hand of God.
My most sincere condolences to his family, he and his type will be sorely missed. Godbless and Godspeed.
-
Tuesday 28th August 2012 22:04 GMT Anonymous Coward
Good on you, all three
Their fame seems to be 100 to ten to one, Armstrong to Aldrin to Collins. But they all risked their life majorly, and maybe the craziest story is Michael Collins, who went to the moon and sat in the ship while the other two guys went down on the lander - and humanity watched them, except for this one guy, alone backstage, he missed the show.
-
Wednesday 29th August 2012 00:30 GMT Kharkov
He left a camera for us...
When asked (and he's been asked this hundreds of times, I'd bet) if the Moon Landings were faked, he'd say 'No.'
When asked how he could be so certain, he never shouted or raged, he simply pointed out that he left a camera there.
And one day, people will go and get it...
RIP Neil, I hope we can all inspire humanity even half as much as you did.
-
-
Wednesday 29th August 2012 10:56 GMT kiwimuso
Re: oh yeah
@tleaf100
Ah, hearsay. Wonderful. I might have taken notice if you had known him personally, but tittle tattle and gossip is SOOOO much better isn't it.
I really don't give a toss whether it is true or not, but MY hearsay says NOT, but he was still the first man on the moon, so tough shit to all the nasty minded USAF wannabes!!!!
-
Friday 31st August 2012 11:59 GMT Anonymous Coward
Re: oh yeah
and the reason why most of them wanted nothing to do with space flights?
a)they wanted a nice,quiet life with their families.
b) they did,nt trust nasa.
how many of you lot actualy met him then.
he always reminded me of the mindless pilot who bombed hiroshima,another great achievment by the americans.
great folk to get the job done,both of them,but you would'nt want them as a "friend.
-
This topic is closed for new posts.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
