Houston, Tranquility Base Here, Neil Armstrong Stopped By On His Way To Heaven

At 3:33PM news wires started reporting that Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon had died.  Armstrong underwent cardiac bypass surgery just two days after his birthday on August 5th to relieve blocked coronary arteries.  He died today from complications of that bypass surgery.

When former astronaut Buzz Aldrin heard that Armstrong “was doing great” following the surgery, he tweeted that he planned on joining Armstrong for the 50^th anniversary of the famous Apollo 11 mission in 2019.

Armstrong said he did not want to be an icon, remembered only for that one-week trip he made in 1969. In 1994, Armstrong appeared at the White House to mark major anniversaries of Apollo 11, and urged America to go on exploring saying, "There are great ideas undiscovered, breakthroughs available to those who can remove one of truth's protective layers. There are places to go beyond belief."

Here is the full statement from the Neil Armstrong family:

We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures.

Neil was our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.

Neil Armstrong was also a reluctant American hero who always believed he was just doing his job. He served his Nation proudly, as a navy fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut. He also found success back home in his native Ohio in business and academia, and became a community leader in Cincinnati. 

He remained an advocate of aviation and exploration throughout his life and never lost his boyhood wonder of these pursuits. 

As much as Neil cherished his privacy, he always appreciated the expressions of good will from people around the world and from all walks of life. 

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."

I will not only wink, I will smile broadly as I remember with great fondness the pride that swelled in my heart when you accomplished the dream of man to slip the surly bonds of Earth.  You planted the American flag on the surface of the moon.  It is still there.  Thank you, Mr. Armstrong.  May you rest in eternal peace.