Neil Armstrong, the first man on the Moon has died.

Glaucus · 26 Aug 2012 at 18:27

King Damager said:
None of my friends commented on my status, and only one other friend posted it on FB...

I need new friends.

kd

Odd comment FB is not the be all of end all. Most FB posts are just attention seeking or self glorification.

I didn't post on FB. But i'm a huge space fan and this is a great loss for making and his and the huge team who backed him will be remembered forever.

mark1284 · 26 Aug 2012 at 18:53

R.I.P

Metalface Mark · 26 Aug 2012 at 18:59

Combat squirrel said:
There are some, I will find them.

This representation is correct, of course I believe this is an image of Alan Bean, Apollo 12 ?

Adrin took none of Armstrong on the surface, you wont find any.

Westyfield2 · 26 Aug 2012 at 20:31

Duff-Man said:
By the way, for anyone wanting an excellent overview of the entire Apollo program, check out the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon. It's an excellent series that follows the manned space program from the first Mercury / Gemini missions, right through to Apollo 17. It's very much in the style of the Apollo 13 movie (This is essentially to Apollo 13 what Band of Brothers is to Saving Private Ryan). Many of the astronauts involved in Gemini/Apollo were consultants, and much of the dialogue is straight from the recorded conversations, so it's about as "true to life" as you're likely to get.

Well worth a watch.

Ta, added it to Lovefilm.

Hades · 26 Aug 2012 at 20:39

Metalface Mark · 26 Aug 2012 at 23:18

From the earth to the moon is as good as band of brothers, its incredible

KatanaDV20 · 26 Aug 2012 at 23:36

Tom Hanks needs a medal, this guy has been a massive massive suporter of the space program. Excellent performance in Apollo 13. I think he and Howard need to get together to do an Apollo 11 one.

Surprising one hasnt been done already! With todays excellent CGI a well-written movie about the landing and all the preparation that came before would be great!

Uhtred · 26 Aug 2012 at 23:45

A rare interview with the man - http://thebottomline.cpaaustralia.com.au/

Duff-Man · 27 Aug 2012 at 00:02

KatanaDV20 said:
Tom Hanks needs a medal, this guy has been a massive massive suporter of the space program. Excellent performance in Apollo 13. I think he and Howard need to get together to do an Apollo 11 one.

Surprising one hasnt been done already! With todays excellent CGI a well-written movie about the landing and all the preparation that came before would be great!

He essentially did - episode 6 of From the Earth to the Moon is dedicated to the Apollo 11 landing, and the previous 5 episodes describe the backstory in all its detail. Tom Hanks was intimately involved in the production of the series, and it's written in a very similar style as Apollo 13. Ron Howard is also a producer.

Westyfield2 said:
Ta, added it to Lovefilm.

Good stuff - you won't be disappointed. For me, it's the best all-round description of the manned space program that I've seen in any medium.

smit101 · 27 Aug 2012 at 03:59

Take a giant step for mankind on a distant lunar sea
As you travel across the universe, will you take a step
Take a step for me? Will you take a step for me?
Voyage of an eagle, blasting to the stars
You take the hopes and dreams of men, to find yourself
To find tranquillity, to find tranquillity

Travelled across the universe and placed the lonely flag
Out there in isolation at the final
The final frontier, at the final frontier
The world's in celebration as we wait for your return
You took a giant leap for mankind on another
On another world, on another world

Take it easy, take it slow, don't go fast, don't let go
The eagle has landed
The eagle has landed
The eagle has landed
The eagle has landed

TJM · 27 Aug 2012 at 11:20

Von Smallhausen said:
He will be remembered a thousand years from now.

It's bizarre how some other deaths (like that of Steve Jobs) get a lot more media coverage and more of a reaction from social media.

If humanity's future is in the stars, Armstrong will eclipse Columbus and every other pioneer in history. He might be the only person from the modern era who will be widely known in the far future.

PMKeates · 27 Aug 2012 at 11:25

TJM said:
It's bizarre how some other deaths (like that of Steve Jobs) get a lot more media coverage and more of a reaction from social media.

To some extent, Armstrong's death is more palatable; a great man who achieved in his prime and enjoyed a long life, eventually winding down and dying. This is a fairly natural thing, and I think as humans we have some sort of programming that lets us celebrate that unequivocally.

In the case of Steve Jobs, a lot of people would say he died before his time. He was still working, very public and had a young family. He had some of his best years ahead of him. His life was taken by disease, and it's hard to say it was a happy ending. It's a lot sadder than Armstrong's passing.

Skillmister · 27 Aug 2012 at 11:40

Not to mention for my generation and younger ones at least (in the majority, and probably a few older ones as well), Neil Armstrong was not a prominent figure what so ever compared to Jobs.

flapjack89 · 27 Aug 2012 at 11:45

mithrandir said:
"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind"

+1

Hades · 27 Aug 2012 at 11:53

I've already added my RIP's earlier. But the thread just reminded me that when my daughter was born I texted everyone with "The Eagle has landed!".

A true hero, along with Aldrin and Collins.

LateX'Dog · 27 Aug 2012 at 11:53

PMKeates said:
To some extent, Armstrong's death is more palatable; a great man who achieved in his prime and enjoyed a long life, eventually winding down and dying. This is a fairly natural thing, and I think as humans we have some sort of programming that lets us celebrate that unequivocally.

In the case of Steve Jobs, a lot of people would say he died before his time. He was still working, very public and had a young family. He had some of his best years ahead of him. His life was taken by disease, and it's hard to say it was a happy ending. It's a lot sadder than Armstrong's passing.

Skillmister said:
Not to mention for my generation and younger ones at least (in the majority, and probably a few older ones as well), Neil Armstrong was not a prominent figure what so ever compared to Jobs.

I didn't realise there was a hierarchy of acceptable deaths.

This is about Neil passing away, not about comparing him with other people.

Just respect what he did and what he achieved and that the world is a darker place without him.

We had the Steve Jobs thread. Stop comparing them.

PMKeates · 27 Aug 2012 at 12:30

LateX'Dog said:
I didn't realise there was a hierarchy of acceptable deaths.

This is about Neil passing away, not about comparing him with other people.

Just respect what he did and what he achieved and that the world is a darker place without him.

We had the Steve Jobs thread. Stop comparing them.

I was providing some insight as to why the death of Steve Jobs may have generated more interest or attention.

As you raise the subject, I would say yes, there is a hierarchy of 'acceptable deaths'. Someone dying of old age after a great life is a natural thing, and part of our basic and inevitable biological process. This is completely normal. Armstrong's legacy will live on forever and the world is a brighter place for ever having him, not a darker place now that he's passed.

I will compare whatever I like to whatever I like.

Helios1234 · 27 Aug 2012 at 15:16

Uhtred said:
A rare interview with the man - http://thebottomline.cpaaustralia.com.au/

That was a truly inspiring video and interview. Thanks for posting it.

spankingtexan · 27 Aug 2012 at 16:56

KatanaDV20 said:
Tom Hanks needs a medal, this guy has been a massive massive suporter of the space program. Excellent performance in Apollo 13. I think he and Howard need to get together to do an Apollo 11 one.

Surprising one hasnt been done already! With todays excellent CGI a well-written movie about the landing and all the preparation that came before would be great!

An Apollo 11 movie would be a fantastic gesture and fitting tribute to a truly amazing Hero. I will be buying the movie, also not forgetting other astronauts who lost their lives in the quest to land man on the moon. God speed all.

Metalface Mark · 27 Aug 2012 at 18:38

There has been Apollo 11 movies in the past, quite a few of them, be it tv movies, tv series or documentaries, I honestly think there is nothing more that they could do other than make a life story.

As has been mentioned From the Earth to the Moon is fantastic, To The Moon, Moon Shot and For All Mankind are all fantastic, particularly For All Mankind.

http://www.criterion.com/films/599-for-all-mankind

Armstrong also published his autobiography a few years ago, unfortunately it was a little dry for me having been one of the last astronauts from the era to write a book so there was nothing really of note but well worth a read if you havent done the subject to death.

Id also recommend Andrew Chaikin's "A man on the moon" which im onto my third copy off, its fantastic and is without doubt the most detailed book on Gemini and Apollo ever written.