Neil A. Armstrong

Neil Astronaut picture (http://www.moonmentum.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Neil-Alden-Armstrong-230x300.jpg)

Throughout history, few people would have been brave enough to go voluntarily  to the most unexplored, mysterious and dangerous place imaginable: The moon!  One man faced this incredible challenge first.  His name is Neil Armstrong.  Neil Alden Armstrong was born on August 5th, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio.  Ever since he was a little boy, he loved flying.  Armstrong even received his pilot license at the age of 15, before he started driving.  Armstrong went to Purdue University in 1947. At Purdue, he studied aeronautical engineering for two years. College was interrupted by the Korean War where he courageously flew many dangerous missions.  After the war, Armstrong finished college and obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering. Later in 1955 he joined NASA and was stationed at Edwards air base where he became a test pilot. Armstrong married Janet Sheeren in 1956.  By 1962, he was accepted into the astronaut program.  Finally, in 1966 he lived the experience of a lifetime:  he flew in the Gemini 8 mission!  Armstrong continued flying. By 1969 his lifetime goal was achieved: Armstrong flew in the Apollo 11 mission.  He became the first human being to ever set foot on the moon.  Armstrong left NASA in 1971 and taught at universities for nearly a decade. He also served as an accident investigation adviser to NASA, and a Board member for several companies.  A hero must possess courage and determination.  He has to have courage do things out of the ordinary, even if his life is at stake.  He has to be determined to accomplish his goals. Throughout his career as a pilot in the Korean War, as a test pilot and later as an astronaut, Neil Armstrong became the perfect hero.  Armstrong demonstrated incredible courage, determination, and the ability to remain calm under immense pressure.

              Neil Armstrong was always hardworking and determined.  Going to college was an example of that: "Although Armstrong's family was not poor, they did not have the means to send their children to college. Neil overcame that problem, however, by earning a Navy college scholarship and enrolling at Purdue University in 1947 to study aeronautical engineering for two years." (Gale Biography In Context). This shows that he was determined to get a good education.  This also shows how he continued following his dream. His determination is also shown here: "He flew a total of 78 combat missions, and was awarded the Air Medal three times. He experienced several near-fatal disasters during war, including several times when he was forced to fly crippled planes to safety after being hit by enemy gunfire." (Gale Biography In Context). This shows that he was able to achieve his objectives at all costs.  His determination saved the lives of his fellow soldiers. Without doubt, Neil Armstrong is a very determined and hardworking hero because of his perseverance and commitment to his duty.

Neil Armstong in space (http://www.spacestationinfo.com/Armstrong.htm ())

  Neil Armstrong stayed incredibly calm under pressure. Most people would have had a nervous breakdown during the moon landing; instead this is what he said:  "Now we need to hook this. Your visor. Yep. Your back is up against the perch. Now you're clear. Over toward me. Straight down, to your left a little bit. Plenty of room. You're lined up nicely. Toward me a little bit. Down. Okay. Now you're clear. You're catching the first hinge. The what hinge? All right, move. Roll to the left. Okay now you're clear. You're lined up on the platform. Put your left foot to the right a little bit. Okay that's good. More left. Good." ("Voice from Moon: The Eagle Has Landed"). This shows how his calmness helped him achieve one of the greatest goals in human history.  He was calm so he could think and work better and be more helpful to his crew mates.  Another example of his calmness under pressure is shown here:  "Another narrow escape for Armstrong occurred in 1968. While training in a lunar module at Ellington Air Force Base near Houston, Texas, the module suddenly went out of control. Armstrong, however, was able to parachute to safety seconds before the module crashed and exploded."(Gale Biography in Context). Neil Armstrong's amazing calmness and skill provided him the ability to survive one more time.  Neil Armstrong's calmness under pressure shows us in part why he is a hero. His calmness under pressure inspires other people to be brave and to work better.

Neil Armstrong's courage is also part of what makes him a hero, because it helped him go where no one has gone before.  His amazing courage is shown here:  "As a research pilot at NASA's Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif., he was a project pilot on many pioneering high speed aircraft, including the well-known, 4000-mph X-15. He has flown over 200 different models of aircraft, including jets, rockets, helicopters and gliders."(John H. Glenn Research Center). Only a truly courageous person could put his life on the line over and over again.  His courage definitely helped the country succeed in the space program.  Perhaps the greatest example of Armstrong's courage is shown here:  "On July 16, 1969, the astronauts lifted off without incident from Cape Kennedy. After several orbits of the earth, a Saturn rocket booster pushed them toward the moon. Three days later, the command module reached lunar orbit. At this stage, Armstrong and Aldrin climbed into the lunar module, named "Eagle," and prepared to head down to the surface of the moon. Collins would stay behind and pilot the command module in its lunar orbit. As the lunar module touched down gently on the moon's surface, Armstrong uttered his first immortal words to mission control in Houston: "The Eagle has landed." Soon thereafter, Armstrong and Aldrin stepped out onto the surface, the first human beings ever to walk on the moon. As Armstrong put his first foot out of the Eagle, he uttered his second immortal line: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Much of the world was able to watch this event live on television, experiencing first-hand through miraculous technology what the two astronauts were seeing. Armstrong and Aldrin collected specimens from the moon's surface, and frolicked about almost playfully at times. A tense exit from the moon followed, in which the lunar module left the surface and rendezvoused with the command module still orbiting the moon. This was accomplished, and the astronauts returned safely to earth to a hero's welcome."(Gale Biography in Context).  This shows us his bravery as the first person ever to go to another celestial body other than earth.  His courage gave him the strength to not stop at anything. Very few people would have accomplished what Neil Armstrong did.

Neil Armstrong in 1956 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neil_Armstrong_1956_portrait.jpg ())

Neil Armstrong's courage, determination and calmness under pressure show us a perfect example of a hero through his achievements.  His courage made him a true pioneer. To this date, Armstrong has done what few have done. His determination kept him going and helped him from giving up with his dream. His calmness under pressure helped him succeed as a war pilot, as a test pilot, and as an astronaut.  Neil Armstrong inspires me and others because of his traits of courage, determination and calmness under pressure.  His courage inspires me to do things that may be scary or painful at first, but that will help me be better in the future.  His determination inspires me and others by showing how hard work and dedication pay off.  His calmness under pressure inspires me and others by showing us how self- control can really help when you have to work under great pressure.  All in all, Neil Armstrong became a hero because his courage, determination, and calmness worked together to make him a person that helped the entire world and inspired millions of people.