Armstrong commanded the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon July 20, 1969, capping the most daring of the 20th century's scientific expeditions. His crewmates were fellow space veterans Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins. He spent nearly three hours walking on the moon.
His first words after setting foot on the surface are etched in history books and in the memories of those who heard them in a live broadcast. "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," Armstrong famously said.
On July 20, at 1:04:40 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, the Apollo 11 spacecraft came to rest gently near the moon's dry Sea of Tranquility.
"The Eagle has landed," Armstrong radioed back to earth.
Armstrong's family described him as "a reluctant American hero who always believed he was just doing his job." The statement mentioned his success after the lunar walk "in business and academia" and as a "community leader in Cincinnati."
Armstrong and his wife, Carol, married in 1999, made their home in the Cincinnati suburb of Indian Hill, but he had largely stayed out of public view in recent years. His birthday was Aug. 5.
"While we mourn the loss of a very good man, we also celebrate his remarkable life and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves," the family wrote in the statement.
