X

First man on moon Neil Armstrong has died

The Apollo 11 astronaut who became the first person on the moon is dead at 82.

Edward Moyer Senior Editor
Edward Moyer is a senior editor at CNET and a many-year veteran of the writing and editing world. He enjoys taking sentences apart and putting them back together. He also likes making them from scratch. ¶ For nearly a quarter of a century, he's edited and written stories about various aspects of the technology world, from the US National Security Agency's controversial spying techniques to historic NASA space missions to 3D-printed works of fine art. Before that, he wrote about movies, musicians, artists and subcultures.
Credentials
  • Ed was a member of the CNET crew that won a National Magazine Award from the American Society of Magazine Editors for general excellence online. He's also edited pieces that've nabbed prizes from the Society of Professional Journalists and others.
See full bio
Edward Moyer
2 min read
Neil Armstrong's shadow on the moon. NASA

Neil Armstrong, the Apollo 11 astronaut who became the first person on the moon, has died at 82.

In a statement, Armstrong's family said the internationally known icon had died following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures.

The family described Armstrong as "a reluctant American hero who always believed he was just doing his job," CBS News reported.

Check out the CBS News video embedded below. And there's a great interview with Armstrong and Walter Cronkite -- along with thrilling pilot's-eye-views of the moon landing -- about midway down here. Also, you'll find the complete (and moving) statement from Armstrong's family below the embedded video.

 

Related:
-- Armstrong on Apollo: "It was a good thing to do"
-- Moonwalk footage being restored after original video lost

Photos: The Apollo 11 moon landing

+24 More
See all photos

Here's the entire statement from Armstrong's family, as published by blog SpaceRef:

We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures.

Neil was our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend.

Neil Armstrong was also a reluctant American hero who always believed he was just doing his job. He served his Nation proudly, as a navy fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut. He also found success back home in his native Ohio in business and academia, and became a community leader in Cincinnati.

He remained an advocate of aviation and exploration throughout his life and never lost his boyhood wonder of these pursuits.

As much as Neil cherished his privacy, he always appreciated the expressions of good will from people around the world and from all walks of life.

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.

For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment, and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.

Update, 1 p.m. PT: The first take of this story relied on a report from NBC News. The story has been modified to include a statement provided to CBS. The headline has also been modified.

Update, 2:09 p.m. PT: Adds full statement from Armstrong's family.