Neil Armstrong Biography and Timeline

Birth of Neil Armstrong

Birth of Neil Armstrong

Education

Reports to Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight training, this lasts almost 18 months, during which time he qualified for carrier landing aboard the USS Cabot and USS Wright

Lieutenant

Armstrong leave the navy and becomes a Lieutenant, Junior Grade in the United States Naval Reserve

Lieutenant

Armstrong leave the navy and becomes a Lieutenant, Junior Grade in the United States Naval Reserve

Medal

Receives the Air Medal for 20 combat missions, a Gold Star for the next 20, and the Korean Service Medal and Engagement Star

Man In Space Soonest

Selected for the US Air Forces Man In Space Soonest program

Man In Space Soonest

Selected for the US Air Forces Man In Space Soonest program

Man In Space Soonest

Named as one of six pilot-engineers who would fly the space plane when it got off the design board

NASA

Deke Slayton called Armstrong and asks if he was interested in joining the NASA Astronaut Corps as part of what the press dubbed "the New Nine", without hesitation, Armstrong says yes

New Nine

Deke Slayton called Armstrong and asks if he was interested in joining the NASA Astronaut Corps as part of what the press dubbed "the New Nine", without hesitation, Armstrong says yes

Gemini VIII

The crew assignments for Gemini 8 were announced with Neil Armstrong as Command Pilot with Pilot David Scott

1st Orbital Docking

During Gemini VIII American astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and David Scott perform the first orbital docking

Gemini VIII

The rendezvous and first ever docking between two spacecraft is successfully completed after 6.5 hours in orbit. The mission launches, the most complex yet, with a rendezvous and docking with the unmanned Agena target vehicle, the second American (and third ever) extra-vehicular activity (EVA) (Armstrong himself dislikes the term "space walk"). During Gemini VIII American astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and David Scott perform the first orbital docking

Apollo 11 Assignment

Is selected to command Apollo 11 after serving as Apollo 8 backup commander.

Role range: 1968-1969

Apollo 11 Launch

Commands Apollo 11 as it launches for the Moon.

Role range: 1969-1969

Apollo 11 Translunar Injection

Commands Apollo 11 as the Saturn V third stage sends the spacecraft toward the Moon.

Role range: 1969-1969

1st Man on the Moon

Armstrong takes over manual control of the LM, finds an area which to him seems safe for a landing and touches down on the moon at 20:17:39 UTC on July 20, 1969

1st Man on the Moon

Takes "one small step for man but a giant step for mankind". Neil Armstrong is 1st man on the moon

1st Man on the Moon

The Eagle lands on the Sea of Tranquility near the lunar equator

Discovery of Moon

The Eagle lands on the Sea of Tranquility near the lunar equator

Apollo 11 Eagle Undocking

Commands Eagle as it separates from Columbia in lunar orbit before the first crewed Moon landing.

Role range: 1969-1969

Apollo 11 Guidance Alarm Response

Continues the lunar descent after Mission Control confirms that guidance computer program alarms permit the landing to proceed.

Role range: 1969-1969

Apollo 11 Landing

Manually guides Eagle to a safe landing on the Moon.

Role range: 1969-1969

Apollo 11 Powered Descent

Commands Eagle during powered descent toward the Sea of Tranquility.

Role range: 1969-1969

Tranquility Base

Reports that Eagle has landed at Tranquility Base.

Role range: 1969-1969

1st Man on the Moon

"Thats one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind". Once Armstrong and Aldrin were ready to go outside, Eagle is depressurized, the hatch is opened and Armstrong made his way down the ladder first, he places his left foot on the surface at 2:56 UTC July 21, 1969

Apollo 11 Eagle Redocking

Returns to Columbia with Aldrin after Eagle rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit.

Role range: 1969-1969

Apollo 11 Lunar Module Ascent

Commands Eagle's ascent stage as it lifts from the Moon to rejoin Columbia.

Role range: 1969-1969

Apollo 11 Lunar Sample Collection

Collects lunar rocks and soil for return to Earth during the first Moon landing.

Role range: 1969-1969

First Moonwalk

Steps onto the lunar surface during Apollo 11.

Role range: 1969-1969

Eagle Lunar Ascent

Commands Eagle’s ascent from the Moon and rendezvous with Collins in Columbia.

Role range: 1969-1969

1st Man on the Moon

The astronauts return to Earth, welcomed as heroes

Apollo 11 Splashdown

Returns safely to Earth after the first Moon landing.

Role range: 1969-1969

Moon Landing Tests Legal Framework

The Apollo 11 lunar landing took place under the treaty's framework permitting exploration while rejecting national territorial claims.

Congressional Gold Medal

Receives the Congressional Gold Medal with other Apollo 11 astronauts.

Role range: 2011-2011

Death of Neil Armstrong

Death of Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong.

Role range: 1930-2012