Astronaut Neil Armstrong dies at 82

Trevor · August 27, 2012, 02:59:10 AM

Quote from: Raffine on August 25, 2012, 05:06:06 PM
"For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request,'' his family said in a Saturday statement. "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."

R.I.P.

I will do that tonight. RIP, Neil Armstrong.

trekgeezer · August 27, 2012, 07:46:13 AM

I was 14 when Neil made that small step. I remember the excitement of the daring landing they made and Walter Cronkite's expression when they touched down.

I know that he was a quiet humble man that shared the same frustration that many of have about slow progress of manned space exploration.

He will be remembered by all mankind

Flangepart · August 27, 2012, 08:22:29 AM

Watching him punch out of the 'flying bedsted' at ONE SECOND before it's too late, during the flight teats used for the actual moon landing...That's the right stuff, baby!

AndyC · August 27, 2012, 05:17:22 PM

Quote from: Flangepart on August 27, 2012, 08:22:29 AM
Watching him punch out of the 'flying bedsted' at ONE SECOND before it's too late, during the flight teats used for the actual moon landing...That's the right stuff, baby!

Punching out at the last second, then going back to his office to finish up some paperwork. I love the way Alan Bean told the story:

QuoteNeil and I were in adjoining offices, same secretary. I remember one day I came in in the morning, I run into a couple of guys, they say, "Do you know that Neil bailed out of the LLTV this morning?" I said, "no way." He said -- whoever it was, two or three guys -- said, "Yeah!" I said, "Okay, I'm going in there and ask him."

So I go in there and Neil... Neil's fooling around, nothing going on. I said, "those guys out in the office said you bailed out of the LLTV this morning." He said, "Yeah." That was all he said, "Yeah." I mean this guy had been a second and a half from being killed and that was it. He didn't say, "l nearly got killed", "l nearly, you know..."

"Yeah." That was it. That was it!

I mean, what was he supposed to do? Maybe he could have gone out and gotten roaring drunk or something but that's not Neil, you know? He went back and shuffled paper.

Allhallowsday · August 28, 2012, 11:01:22 PM

I am almost too young, but not quite, to remember the Apollo missions. I remember seeing a big moon in the sky at the top of the landing in our old house on Christmas Eve in Newton, NJ and thinking, and getting very excited, that I saw Apollo 8 pass before that moon. I have always been deeply impressed by our astronauts and a huge admirer.

Pilgermann · August 29, 2012, 12:27:28 AM

Gosh, what a fine human being. A guy like that truly deserves to be remembered forever.

Andrew · August 29, 2012, 12:43:37 AM

RIP Mr. Armstrong. Thank you for reminding me that life is dangerous, but the journey is always worth the risk.

ER · September 01, 2012, 05:47:20 PM

His funeral was yesterday, in town, at a nearby country club, and it was a HUGE event. There was a flyover by military fighter jets at one point that rattled the windows, they were so low. Roads all over were closed, so I stayed home, but I did watch as convoys of limos and SUV's and government and military vehicles of all kinds passed by for what seemed like an hour or more. Eight astronauts attended, dignitaries, the media. It was a fitting to-do for a fine man whose like we'll not see anytime soon...

Trevor · September 03, 2012, 02:01:36 AM

Quote from: ER on September 01, 2012, 05:47:20 PM
His funeral was yesterday, in town, at a nearby country club, and it was a HUGE event. There was a flyover by military fighter jets at one point that rattled the windows, they were so low. Roads all over were closed, so I stayed home, but I did watch as convoys of limos and SUV's and government and military vehicles of all kinds passed by for what seemed like an hour or more. Eight astronauts attended, dignitaries, the media. It was a fitting to-do for a fine man whose like we'll not see anytime soon...

I can imagine Mr A thinking: Come on, guys: enough already.

AndyC · September 03, 2012, 06:16:54 AM

Quote from: Trevor on September 03, 2012, 02:01:36 AM
Quote from: ER on September 01, 2012, 05:47:20 PM
His funeral was yesterday, in town, at a nearby country club, and it was a HUGE event. There was a flyover by military fighter jets at one point that rattled the windows, they were so low. Roads all over were closed, so I stayed home, but I did watch as convoys of limos and SUV's and government and military vehicles of all kinds passed by for what seemed like an hour or more. Eight astronauts attended, dignitaries, the media. It was a fitting to-do for a fine man whose like we'll not see anytime soon...

I can imagine Mr A thinking: Come on, guys: enough already.

If he were alive, he'd be looking for the first opportunity to escape.