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There is no single defining moment in Armstrong's long flight career that made him choose to become an Astronaut. He was uniquely suited for the job though, having been a Naval Aviator in the Korean War, and flying as a Test Pilot for the National Advisory Council on Aeronautics (NACA), the forerunner of NASA. Several of his missions were in the X-15 rocket plane, which explored the upper reaches of the atmosphere.
He was selected for the Air Force's Man In Space Soonest program (MISS), which was the attempt to beat the Soviet Union into space. The program eventually evolved into Project Mercury, the first U.S. Manned Flight missions.
Armstrong was contacted by Mercury Astronaut Deke Slayton in 1962, asking him if he wanted to be considered for the Gemini Missions, to which he immediately replied yes. The Gemini Mission crews were the only ones who could fly the Apollo missions, and it was by chance that Armstrong drew the straw for Apollo XI's historic lunar landing on July 20, 1969.
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∙ 14y ago
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∙ 7y agoAfter his service in the Korean war, he became a test pilot with the Navy. He worked in the design and flight testing of various aircraft, and was selected for early space capsule simulator tests in 1958. In 1959, he was one of the first 7 astronauts in the Mercury program. Like the other early astronauts, he was interested in taking the next step in advanced flight, which was the Manned Space Program.
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∙ 10y agoHe was told if he didn't, his whole family would be killed!
Seriously, he just wanted to.
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∙ 12y agoRobert thirsk id cool
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Was Neil Armstrong a captain?
No, Neil Armstrong was an astronaut.
Was Louie Armstrong an astronaut?
Neil Armstrong was the astronaut. Louis Armstrong was a trumpet player.
When did nil Armstrong become a astronaut?
Neil Armstrong NASA's best astronaut, became a astronaut in 1962. A few years later he was the first man to land on the moon in 1969.
Did Neil Armstrong want to be a astronaut when he was younger?
no a poilt he was never interested about it! :P
How will you capitalize this sentence neil Armstrong a famous astronaut landed on the moon?
Neil Armstrong is a famous astronaut who landed on the moon.
HOW did Neil become an astronaut?
Neil Armstrong became an astronaut in 2010 at the age of three
What is Neil astronaut?
neil astronaut is a astronaut his real name is neil armstrong
Was Neil Armstrong a captain?
No, Neil Armstrong was an astronaut.
What weapons did neil Armstrong use?
Neil Armstrong... the Astronaut? None that I know of.He was an Astronaut.
Was Louie Armstrong an astronaut?
Neil Armstrong was the astronaut. Louis Armstrong was a trumpet player.
When did nil Armstrong become a astronaut?
Neil Armstrong NASA's best astronaut, became a astronaut in 1962. A few years later he was the first man to land on the moon in 1969.
Who was on the moon first?
Neil Armstrong 1969
Did Neil Armstrong want to be a astronaut when he was younger?
no a poilt he was never interested about it! :P
How will you capitalize this sentence neil Armstrong a famous astronaut landed on the moon?
Neil Armstrong is a famous astronaut who landed on the moon.
Who is first astronaut?
neil armstrong
Who is a famous astronaut?
Neil Armstrong
Is the astronaut Neil Armstrong a Muslim?
No.
