Neil Armstrong, the first man to land on the moon as commander of NASA's Apollo 11 mission, has died at 82 according to a report by NBC.
Armstrong passed away due to complications of a heart bypass surgery he underwent just weeks ago. His 82nd birthday was on August 5.
On July 20, 1969, Armstrong made history by placing his left foot onto the surface of the moon and uttering the words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" and completed arguably the greatest scientific feat of the 20th century.
SEE ALSO: Neil Armstrong Took the Hardest Step for All of Us
Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio in 1930. He studied aerospace engineering at Purdue University both before and after serving in the Navy as a test and fighter pilot he was selected in 1958 for the U.S. Air Force's 'Man in Space Soonest' program, setting him on the path that would change history.
Armstrong had three children, Alan, Karen Anne (who died of a brain tumor on January 28, 1962) and Mark Stephen with his first wife Janet Shearon. In 1999, Armstrong married Carole Held Knight.
Though a household name, he was known as a man who liked to stay out of the spotlight. His public appearances were seldom and of few words. During his later life he emerged to voice his reservations about President Obama's space policy by testifying in front of Congress.
#BREAKING: Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, has died at age 82, NBC News has learned— NBC Nightly News(@nbcnightlynews) August 25, 2012
Reactions from Twitter:
NASA offers its condolences on today's passing of Neil Armstrong, former test pilot, astronaut & the 1st man on the moon. Neil was 82.
— NASA (@NASA) August 25, 2012
RT
@skybod: Family statement: next time you walk outside …and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a …— Nick Martin (@NickMartinSKY) August 25, 2012
One small tweet for Neil Armstrong, one giant thanks for your momentous service to our world.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) August 25, 2012
— Josh Helfferich (@JoshHelfferich) August 25, 2012
RT
@brianstelter: How the news broke: Neil Armstrong's wife Carol called former astronaut Tom Stafford, who called Jay Barbree of NBC News.— Kim Severson (@kimseverson) August 25, 2012
RT
@mikedrucker:#RIPNeilArmstrong You made humanity one united group for a few minutes, and that's way better than anyone else has done.— Amber L. Field (@geeky_chic) August 25, 2012
More to come.
Photos courtesy of NASA.
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