In 1946, at age 16, Neil Armstrong got his pilot’s license before his driver’s license. Although Armstrong was most well-known for being the first man to set foot on the Moon, in 1969, he also was an accomplished aviator, and he commanded the space flight for the Moon landing. During the Korean War, he served as a combat fighter pilot in nearly 80 military missions before he began his career as an astronaut. Armstrong also was a test pilot for the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and even flew the X-15, a missile-shaped aircraft that reached speeds of about 4,000 miles (6437.38 km) per hour. He is estimated to have flown more than 200 types of aircraft during his aviation career.
More about Neil Armstrong:
- Armstrong received special honors and accolades from the leaders of 17 countries.
- In 1966, Armstrong piloted the Gemini Mission, a project intended to help gather information for the eventual Moon landing, and he became the first man to dock two vehicles in space.
- Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, and returned to his home state to become a professor of Engineering at the University of Cincinnati from 1971-1979.
