Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, has died, his
family said Saturday. He was 82.
"We are heartbroken to
share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following
complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures," Armstrong's
family said in a statement obtained by CNN affiliate WKRC.
Armstrong underwent heart
surgery this month.
"While we mourn the loss
of a very good man, we also celebrate his remarkable life and hope that
it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to
make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the
limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves," his
family said.
"For those who may ask
what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. 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."
He and fellow astronauts
Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins blasted off in Apollo 11 on a nearly
250,000-mile journey to the moon that went down in the history books.
It took them four days to
reach their destination.The world watched and
waited as the lunar module "Eagle" separated from the command module and
began its descent.
Then came the words from
Armstrong: "Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed."
About six and a half
hours later at 10:56 p.m. ET on July 20, 1969, Armstrong, at age 38,
became the first person to set foot on the moon.
He uttered the
now-famous phrase: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for
mankind."
Tributes to Armstrong
began pouring in Saturday as word of his death spread."Neil Armstrong was a
true American hero, both because of his extraordinary service to his
country and the honorable life he led. He was a groundbreaking Naval
aviator and the world's most famous astronaut, but it was his humble and
gracious response to the torrent of attention that followed his
accomplishments that may have set him apart most," said Ohio Sen. Rob
Portman.
Armstrong was born in
Wapakoneta, Ohio, on August 5, 1930.
After his historic
mission to the moon, Armstrong worked for the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA), coordinating and managing the
administration's research and technology work.
In 1971, he resigned
from NASA and taught engineering at the University of Cincinnati for
nearly a decade.
While many people are
quick to cash in on their 15 minutes of fame, Armstrong largely avoided
the public spotlight and chose to lead a quiet, private life with his
wife and children.
But he always recognized
-- in a humble manner -- the importance of what he had accomplished.
"Looking back, we were
really very privileged to live in that thin slice of history where we
changed how man looks at himself and what he might become and where he
might go," Armstrong said.