Happy 80th Birthday, Dr. Neil Armstrong

Lunar Pioneer

[Prospero]

Dr. Neil Armstrong, first to set foot on another world, celebrates his 80th birthday, August 5, 2010. More than half his lifetime has passed since he guided the Apollo 11 lunar module down to the ancient volcanic plains near the Equator, in the southwestern Mare Tranquillitatis, July 20, 1969.

Neither the president's proposed budget nor NASA spending targets approved in both House and Senate committees thus far includes funding for the Altair lunar lander.

[junta]

Just another old crakka.

[P.O.E.]

Happy Birthday!

[randog]

Happy Birthday Neil!

A man of true humility.

[Larry Lucido]

Happy birthday!

[ILS21R]

Happy Birthday Neil!

[Diogenesis]

[fieldmarshaldj]

Happy birthday (which he shares with my cat, who turns 11 today).

[NCC-1701]

Happy birthday to Neil Armstrong, the leader of the group known as the Dirty Dozen. Those are the twelve humans that have walked on the lunar surface, three of which are no longer with us. For a man who has one of the most unique titles ever bestowed upon someone, he has maintained his privacy and dignity without selling out. He is to be admired for that. He is a remarkable man.

Again, happy 80th Neil. Hope you have many more.

BTW, his Apollo 11 crewmates turn 80 this year as well.

[PhilosopherStone1000]

Awesome! Still have a personally autographed photo of him from my dad’s time at NASA.

[Razmataz]

I had the privilege to hear him speak at one of our award dinners
and his talk was fantastic. What is interesting is that I don’t remember
his words. I do remember the 20 minutes of standing ovation he
received from us and there was not a dry eye in the house, including his.

The standing tribute to him was BEFORE he spoke.

Happy Birthday to this man.

It was a rare and memorable time in my life.

Razmataz

[Frantzie]

What a great man and a tribute to America and midwestern values. X-15 record holder and his incredible piloting skill probably saved two missions (Gemini and Apollo) that would have ended in death for 2 x 2 astronauts.

An amazing man.

[Frantzie]

Neil is also such a humble man.

[edcoil]

I thought Pete Knight was the x-15 record holder?

Neil has survived a difficult life after the lunar missions - marriage, booze and life issues but he seems to have made it out the other end fine.

[TMA62]

Happy Birthday Neil from a fellow Purdue Alum!!!!

[MIchaelTArchangel]

You misspelled “crakka” in the Chicago dialect (or Jerimiah Wright, Calypso Louis Farrakkkhan, and Barakkk Hussein Obama) it is spelled “craKKKa”.

[thulldud]

Is that Armstrong in the top picture?

Happens that there are very few pictures of Armstrong on the moon, because in most of the moon surface pictures from Apollo 11, he was behind the camera, shooting at Aldrin.

[pabianice]

It was some night. We flight students were stationed at NAS North Island, most of us ensigns and lieutenants junior grade, all crammed into the TV room of the BOQ (no one had a private TV in 1969). Packed with people, the non-air conditioned room was sweltering and sweat ran freely down our faces. We were mesmerized by the ghostly black and white pictures on the TV screen. A-3s and A-5s were doing night takeoffs and landings 300 years away; the turbojet noise was deafening and prevented conversation. We watched, riveted, as former Navy pilot Neal Armstrong slowly made his way down the ladder to step onto the Moon. As his foot touched the surface, we broke-out into a huge, rolling cheer. We slapped each other on the back, smiling hugely. Our beers were momentarily forgotten. A giant wave of pride and fellowship swept through the room. An event never to be forgotten.

Now, Obama is ending the manned space program, as he disapproves of American greatness.

[thulldud]

Or is that even Apollo 11? They didn’t land that close to any hills that big. That photo could be a composite (not surprising, if it appeared in LIFE.)

[EyeGuy]

And 43.7% of America’s yutes can’t tell you who this genuine American hero is, but they can recite verbatim the Rosa Parks legend.