BREAKING
NEWS - WE PAY TRIBUTE TO AN IMMORTAL HERO OF MANKIND NEIL ARMSTRONG WHO
SADLY DIED AT THE AGE OF 82 AFTER COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING A HEART BY
PASS..HIS NAME WILL LIVE ON FOREVER - THE 1ST MAN ON THE MOON...
US Astronaut Neil Armstrong Dies Aged 82
Tributes are being paid to Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, who has died from heart surgery complications.
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US astronaut Neil Armstrong (left) led the first manned mission to the moon, Apollo 11. Also on board were Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. Pic: Nasa
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An estimated 600 million people - a fifth of the world's population - watched and listened to the first moon landing, the largest audience for any single event in history. Pic: Nasa
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Armstrong leads the others from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
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Here, he talks to technicians shortly before Apollo 11 blasted off into space.
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Armstrong on a training exercise in the Nevada desert.
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The rocket was a Saturn V and took off on 16th July, 1969 - four days before the moon landing
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Only Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon in the lunar module - Michael Collins remained in orbit.
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"One small step for man... one giant leap for mankind," Armstrong's first moments on the moon were shown on TV around the world.
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Photos of Armstrong on the moon are rare. In this one he is working on the lunar module.
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The space suit wore by Armstrong.
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The three astronauts were honoured with a parade through New York following their safe return.
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After Apollo 11, Armstrong announced he did not plan to fly in space again. He left Nasa in 1971 and took up a teaching post at the University of Cincinnatti.
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Armstrong died at the age of 82 from cardiovascular surgery complications. His family say " next time you see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong."
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President Barack Obama tweeted: "Neil Armstrong was a hero not just of his time, but of all time. Thank you, Neil, for showing us the power of one small step."
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Gallery: Neil Armstrong's Extraordinary Career In Pictures
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Sky's Rhiannon Mills looks at the life of the man who made a giant leap for mankind.
Video: Neil Armstrong 'A Hero Of All Time'
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Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, has died aged 82.
His family said they were "heartbroken" by his death and called him "a
reluctant American hero who always believed he was just doing his job."They said he died from cardiovascular surgery complications following a heart bypass earlier this month.
President Barack Obama hailed the astronaut as a "great American hero".
As commander of the Apollo 11 mission in July 1969, Mr Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon.
Moments after setting foot on the lunar surface, he uttered the famous quote: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
The 38-year-old then spent nearly three hours walking on the moon with Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin.
Buzz Aldrin tweeted: "On behalf of the Aldrin family we extend our deepest condolences to Carol & the entire Armstrong family on Neil's passing. He will be missed."
Michael Collins, who flew to the moon with Mr Armstrong, said: "He was the best, and I will miss him terribly."
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said: "I met and spoke with Neil Armstrong just a few weeks ago.
"His passion for space, science and discovery, and his devotion to America will inspire me through my lifetime."
Astronomer Sir Patrick Moore said: "As the first man on the moon, he broke all records. I knew him well. He was a man who had all the courage in the world."
Physicist Professor Brian Cox tweeted: "Sad to hear about death of Neil Armstrong. I do think Apollo was the greatest of human achievements. For once, we reached beyond our grasp."
Former astronaut Tom Jones, who completed four space shuttle flights between 1990 and 2001, told Sky News: "Mr Armstrong was one of the astronauts that was my hero when I was growing up and I watched his initial landing on the moon in 1969 with incredible interest.
"I wanted to do exactly what Neil, and Buzz, and Mike Collins were doing that time. I hoped that one day I would have the chance to participate in the space programme.
He said meeting Mr Armstrong had been a "dream come true" and described being "star struck" by the chance to meet and work with his idol.
"He's a very unassuming and friendly person when you get to know him in a professional setting," he added.
Jamie Burgess, from the National Space Centre, told Sky News: "It's extremely sad news. It's a terrible shock to the science community. He will be sorely missed."
An estimated 600 million people watched and listened to the first moon landing, the largest audience for any single event in history.
Mike Cruise, professor of astrophysics and space research at the University of Birmingham, said: "The people at the front of the race always have to tread on new ground.
"He led the whole world into a space era of greater proportion than has been achieved by satellites.
"You wonder when his first steps will be followed up. It must have been very awe-inspiring to step on to, essentially, a new planet."
Mr Armstrong and his wife Carol married in 1999 and made their home in the Cincinnati suburb of Indian Hill, but he had largely stayed out of public view in recent years.
He spoke at Ohio State University in February at an event honouring fellow astronaut John Glenn and the 50th anniversary of Mr Glenn becoming the first American to orbit the Earth.