# Neil Armstrong -first man on moon has died **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 25, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631 "2012-08-25T19:17:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/41 "2012-08-25T20:41:58Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > It’s hard to imagine how anyone could top being the first man on the moon, but it doesn’t seem that he did much afterward except cash in on his feat by serving on various corporate boards, while suing anybody else who tried to do the same, to the point where he wouldn’t even sign autographs in case somebody might later sell one. So this is a meh for me. I’m not sure I understand what you are claiming here. Neil Armstrong is(was)a true icon. Here is a guy who was in a position to make hundreds of millions on his being the first man on the moon. Robert Klein, the comedian, once said that Armstrong was great because he didn’t try to profit from his fame. For example, what if he stepped on the moon and said “Coca-Cola!”. If he did, that would have been the advertising gambit of all time, and he would have made a fortune. That would have been pretty easy to do, and NASA couldn’t have done much to stop it. Even when he got back, he didnt sell his fame to the masses, unlike MOTM #2, Buzz Aldrin, who would have done anything to make a buck. No, Neil Armstrong didnt do anything in the public for money until he hosted some television programs about aviation or flying machines or something. At least that’s what I remember. I admitni could be wrong, as I didn’t follow everything he did after NASA. But I can’t knock him for making some money with a guy that is on some BoD’s. In any event, regardless of his financial situation and if you liked him or not from afar, America is minus one hero today. I, for one, am saddened by his death. He will be missed. And don’t say that about many celebrities/people I don’t know peronally. ---
**Author:** ![Archeonomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Archeonomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archeonomist)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/42 "2012-08-25T20:46:19Z")
> [@Typo\_Knig](#): > > He’s bound to be the most famous man in post-Roman history, yet he did not cash in on his fame, or wallow in it. It’s sad when the great ones go. Amen ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/43 "2012-08-25T20:49:28Z")
Any chance that a Doper was an engineering student of his in Ohio? I’d love to know how any student could concentrate on the academic subject matter…I’d just be in slack-jawed awe the whole time, which is exactly the attitude that Professor Armstring did \*not \* cultivate. Perhaps he had a way of getting the people around him to relax and treat him like anyone else. If he did, that’s a huge accomplishment in itself. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/44 "2012-08-25T20:52:45Z")
He died at 82. He lead a long and productive life! He made kids dream and wonder and love science and their space heroes. Since he was no personal friend of mine, I won’t say “DAMN IT!” because what am I going to miss? I’d rather just raise a glass. Hear, hear! Thanks for your contributions, Old Man. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/45 "2012-08-25T20:55:10Z")
It’s strange in a way why this should be so affecting for baby boomers. It shook me up too when Yuri Gagarin died and the death of Armstrong has had an equal effect. Perhaps it’s because, living through that age, these people represented for us the Future, of flight between the planets, colonization of the Solar System, all the stuff we thought the Space Age heralded. They were the trailblazers to Man’s place among the stars. Now they are dead and the shitty, pedestrian world is the same as ever, manned flights to the Moon a distant memory, our planetary neighbors as distant and unreachable as ever. The Future turned out to be the Past. Armstrong’s death reminds some of us of a time when our dreams took on reality in front of our very eyes and anything seemed possible. A time long gone. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/46 "2012-08-25T20:56:14Z")
Considering the dangers of space flight and the number of others who died in accidents attempting to further humanity’s knowledge of space, I think he was very fortunate to live a good long life. I definitely think we need more modest, sensible heroes like him out there. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/47 "2012-08-25T21:02:08Z")
In the space of only three weeks, NASA has given us a reason to cry for joy and a reason to cry for sadness. And we still give this agency an annual budget that would only carry the DOD 13 days. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/48 "2012-08-25T21:08:16Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > It’s strange in a way why this should be so affecting for baby boomers. It shook me up too when Yuri Gagarin died and the death of Armstrong has had an equal effect. Perhaps it’s because, living through that age, these people represented for us the Future, of flight between the planets, colonization of the Solar System, all the stuff we thought the Space Age heralded. They were the trailblazers to Man’s place among the stars. > > Now they are dead and the shitty, pedestrian world is the same as ever, manned flights to the Moon a distant memory, our planetary neighbors as distant and unreachable as ever. The Future turned out to be the Past. > > Armstrong’s death reminds some of us of a time when our dreams took on reality in front of our very eyes and anything seemed possible. A time long gone. Well said. I’m not a boomer, but remember the moon landing (I was just two and my dad woke me up to watch) and remember the missions after. Possibilities seemed endless. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/49 "2012-08-25T21:12:27Z")
Aw man! [Here is one of Neil’s last, rare interviews.](http://thebottomline.cpaaustralia.com.au/? __utma=1.2107835845.1345928883.1345928883.1345928883.1&__ utmb=1.5.9.1345928947331& __utmc=1&__ utmx=-& __utmz=1.1345928883.1.1.utmcsr=google%7Cutmccn=%28organic%29%7Cutmcmd=organic%7Cutmctr=%28not%20provided%29&__ utmv=-&__utmk=88042008) Note the URL. A web site for Australian CPAs. He did it because his dad was an auditor. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/50 "2012-08-25T21:37:09Z")
☹ ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/51 "2012-08-25T21:43:16Z")
☹ Danm, one of the few people I’ve reguarded as genuine hero’s and indpirations in my life. I was born at the enf of the Apollo era but have always been fascinated with the Mercury/Gemini/Apollo programs and the X-Planes as well. No more steps Neil, you’ve done your job. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/52 "2012-08-25T22:00:24Z")
Another space-race kid here. Godspeed, Commander. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/53 "2012-08-25T22:12:26Z")
Damn I seem to have some lunar dust in my eyes making them water. I’ll raise a glass tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/54 "2012-08-25T22:13:05Z")
_American Heritage_ had a brief article a few years back, a reminiscence by an Ohio man who’d been a Boy Scout working on Aviation merit badge in the early Seventies. At his father’s suggestion, he contacted Armstrong and asked the former astronaut to review his work. Armstrong invited him to come over, and they met at Armstrong’s house a few days later. Armstrong looked over the boy’s work, asked him several questions, and then cheerily signed the form. The guy’s Scoutmaster was stunned that Neil Armstrong himself had OK’d the kid for a merit badge. Many thanks, Godspeed and a peaceful rest. He was a good and faithful servant of the United States, and of humanity. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/55 "2012-08-25T22:23:14Z")
I was within 20 feet of NA (and the rest of the living Apollo astronauts) at the 25th anniversary celebration at EAA. Rumor has it more astronauts attended that than the official (NASA?) celebration. Anyhow, some reporter asked NA some lame question about walking on the moon, and NA’s respose was something like “A pilot is excited about flying, not walking” Brian ---
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/56 "2012-08-25T22:28:38Z")
RIP. Lobo is a bit dated nowadays, but here’s [A Man Named Armstrong](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6Vhvxdew2Q). I, too, saw it on that July afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/57 "2012-08-25T22:36:28Z")
Merged a CS thread into this one; chronology may be a little wonky. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/58 "2012-08-25T22:37:24Z")
When I was in 6th grade I sent a letter to NASA asking for a photo of the Astronauts. They sent me 8x10s of everyone in the program. [Here’s Neil](http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v474/-dc-/?action=view¤t=Armstrong.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/59 "2012-08-25T22:37:44Z")
Armstrong’s family has issued this statement: “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. 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.” ---
**Author:** ![kiwimac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e19adc/32.png) [@kiwimac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiwimac)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631/60 "2012-08-25T22:42:40Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > All of the above. I was born in the Space Age, and was an avid Space Cadet as a child. I was concerned for Armstrong’s longevity when I heard about is heart problem. Now he’s gone. If you didn’t live through that era, you might not understand my excitement toward the X-planes and Rocket Men. It was an exciting time in bleeding-edge aviation. And now a hero of that time and my youth has died. > > The Eagle has flown. ☹ I remember that my primary (elementary) school turned on the radios so we could hear the communication between the ground and the Eagle. I was 9 and I was so very proud of all of us, all us humans. Rest Well Cmdr Armstrong, we will not forget you, no matter how long we may be or how far we fly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631.md?page=4)