Introduction
 

       Neil Armstrong was a brilliant man who had a lifelong love of flight. One may have a moment in life where one becomes awestruck by something, leaving one wanting to know more about that thing. For Armstrong, he had an experience like that at the age of 6, when he “took his first airplane ride, in a Ford TriMotor, and got hooked for good” (Brinkley). According to a Neil Armstrong article, “When he was 14 years old, he worked after school at a pharmacy to earn money to fly light airplanes at a nearby air field. He earned his pilot's license on his sixteenth birthday, before he even had an automobile driver's license” (“Neil Armstrong” 1). Hard work and determination could already be seen in a young Armstrong; these are traits that would mark his career. Armstrong knew that if he wanted to fly, he would have to pay for it out of his own pocket, and for an adolescent to spend money it says a lot. This could have stopped others, but it did not stop him, and because of his hard work he earned a pilot’s license. A license that is undoubtably difficult to attain, and therefore makes the feat even more impressive since he received it so young. Armstrong would eventually have a master's in aeronautical engineering (1), spend two years serving in the U.S. Navy as a pilot, and become one of NASA’s best test pilots and astronauts (Brinkley). He valued education, honored his country, and used his talent for the greater good. Armstrong dedicated his life to his passion and turned out to be extremely gifted in this area, and because of that, it opened doors for him to be the first man to step on the moon.   

      Neil Armstrong was a man filled with humility when it came to his impressive military service record. With just two years of service, “He flew a total of 78 combat missions, and was awarded the Air Medal for the United States Military three times” (“Neil Armstrong” 1). Despite that, Armstrong found himself cringing when being called a combat hero and considered himself young, lacking experience, even though all the other men in his fighter squadron thought otherwise (Brinkley). Armstrong could’ve easily grown proud when it came to the skills he had developed in piloting. Instead, he was a levelheaded man who would not allow pride to throw him off. Humility is important to have because it leaves a person in the best mindset for potential growth. Armstrong at this stage of his life was young, yet very capable, so this would only point to a brighter future. This is what would allow for much growth in his life when it came to perfecting his craft in piloting and astronaut training.    

       Neil Armstrong was known for his fearless nature in the face of possible death. While serving in the military, “He had several near-fatal disasters during war, including several times when he was forced to fly crippled planes to safety after being hit by enemy gunfire” (“Neil Armstrong” 1). It is these moments that reveal much about a person’s true character. The ability to remain collected under immense pressure is remarkable and this is what Armstrong mastered. Those experiences would only make him stronger for what he would face next in his career. Armstrong sometime after became a test pilot for the NACA (NASA’s predecessor) being tasked with flying state-of-the-art-jets that required him to push flight envelopes, so modifications could be made to perfect new aircraft that would be used on the front lines, “of America's Cold War defenses” (Brinkley 1). At the time tensions between the Soviet Union and the U.S. were at an all-time high. Armstrong was trusted by his country to test the capabilities of this high-tech flight equipment. He did not take this task lightly because he was aware that it was not just his life on the line, but possibly millions of other Americans as well. Armstrong’s talent and devotion to his country was recognized and he was selected among the individuals who would serve as astronauts in the new NASA program (1). Space travel is incredibly risky. This truth could be seen in a Gemini 8 flight which was Armstrong’s first trip to space (1). A malfunction occurred on one of the spacecraft as “they were nearly 200 miles above China and out of radio contact with the ground when the two spacecraft suddenly began to tumble end over end” (1). The astronauts were in danger of passing out at any moment but thanks to Armstrong’s maneuvering of the spacecraft, as praised by Chris Kraft the NASA flight director, they managed to survive (1). A moment that could’ve meant the end of these dear astronauts' lives was in the hands of Armstrong. He assessed the situation and reacted in an appropriate matter, any second of hesitation or doubt could have meant a different fate, meaning his name would not be known as it is today. He regained control of the spacecraft and set them on course for a safe crash landing.  

         It was not a coincidence that he was selected as the first man to step on the moon. Then came the famous Apollo 11 mission that would be the most dangerous, but memorable mission of Armstrong’s career, requiring a safe journey to the moon and back. Yet against all odds, it proved to be a major success, not only for the U.S. but for space exploration as a whole. (1). The whole world watched as these Astronauts made history. Armstrong’s fearless nature was tested time and time again. In the face of what many would crumble to pressure, he stood strong. He had all the defining qualities that would set him apart for this specific mission, and his story continues to be retold to this present day.