Armstrong, Neil Alden

1947- Graduates from Blume high School; enrolls at Purdue University on a Navy Scholarship.

1949- Called to active duty by the United States Navy.

1951- Sent to Korea as a flighter pilot.

1952- Recives honorable discharge from the Navy; returns to Purdue University.

1955- Earns a B.S. degree in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University ; becomes a civilian test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base near Los Angeles, California. 4 months later he got a call informing him that there was an opening at Edwards Air Force Base.

1956- Marries Janet Shearon on the 28th of January.

1957- Son Eric (Ricky) is born.

1959- Daughter Karen is born.

1962- Daughter Karen dies; Armstrong chosen to be an astronaut.

1963- Son Mark is born.

1966- Commander of Gemini 8, his first space flight; receives NASA's Exceptional Service Medal.

1969- Becomes the first man to walk on the moon on July 20 during the Apollo 11 mission; receives the presidential Medal of freedom. May 18, Apollo 10 was launched from Cape Kennedy. May 26, returned home.

1970- Earns a master degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Southern California.

1971- Resigns from Nasa; becomes a professor at the University of Cincinnati; buys a farm near Lebannon. Ohio.

1978- Receives the congressional Space Medal of Honor.

1979- Sets an altitude record for business jets at 51,000 feet; resigns from University of Cincinnati; becomes chairman of the board for the Cardwell International Corporation in Lebanon, Ohio.

1982- Named chairman of Computing Technologies for Aviation, Inc. (CTA)

1984- Appointed to the National Commission on space.

1986- Serves on the Rogers Commission investigating the space shuttle Challenger accident.

1994- Divorced from wife Shearon and remarries.

1996- Continues to serve on the boards of various corporations.

• "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."