Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue University in 1955. He served in the United States Navy from 1957 to 1960, flying in the Korean War. After leaving the Navy, he became a research pilot at NASA's Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
Armstrong was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1962. He made his first space flight as the command pilot of Gemini 8 in 1966. During this mission, he and crewmate David Scott performed the first docking of two spacecraft in orbit. Armstrong's second and final space flight was Apollo 11 in 1969. He and fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the Moon on July 20, 1969. Armstrong spoke the famous words, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind," when he stepped onto the Moon.
After Apollo 11, Armstrong taught aerospace engineering at the University of Cincinnati. He also served on several government and industry boards and commissions. He was awarded numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1978.
Armstrong died in Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 25, 2012, at the age of 82. He is survived by his wife, Carol Held Knight Armstrong; two sons, Rick and Mark; and a daughter, Karen.
Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. (born January 20, 1930) is a retired American astronaut, engineer, and second person to set foot on the Moon. He is also the first person to use a "handheld television camera on the surface of the Moon during Apollo 11". He retired from NASA in 1971 and went on to start a business and write several books.
As the lunar module pilot on Apollo 11, Aldrin became the second person to walk on the Moon after Armstrong. He spent a total of 21 hours and 36 minutes on the lunar surface. He also set up several scientific experiments, including the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP).
Aldrin was born in Montclair, New Jersey. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy in 1951. He served in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1972. During this time, he flew more than 6,800 hours in various aircraft, including the F-86 Sabre and the F-100 Super Sabre. He also flew in the Korean War.
After Apollo 11, Aldrin taught at the United States Air Force Academy and the International Space University. He also started several businesses, including a space exploration company called Buzz Aldrin Enterprises. He has written several books, including "Return to Earth" (1973), "Encounter with Tiber" (1996), and "Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon" (2009).
Aldrin is married to Lois Driggs Cannon. He has three children: James, Janice, and Andrew. He lives in Satellite Beach, Florida.
