Neil Armstrong (1930-2012):
Neil Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio on August 5, 1930. He began his NASA career in Ohio. Armstrong was a naval aviator, an engineer, test pilot, astronaut and administrator for NACA and its successor agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He has flown over 200 different models of aircraft, including jets, rockets, helicopters and gliders. Armstrong was transferred to astronaut status in 1962 and was assigned as the command pilot of the Gemini 8 mission. Gemini 8 was launched on March 16, 1966, and he performed the first successful docking of two vehicles in space. He then became the spacecraft commander for the Apollo 11 and became famous as the 1st person to step moon's surface. Sadly, Armstrong passed away last summer- August 25, 2012
Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin (1930-Present)
Edwin Buzz Aldrin was born in Montclair, New Jersey on January 20, 1930. He has 2 sons and a daughter and is married to the former Lois Driggs of Phoenix. He received a bachelor of science degree from the U.S Military Academy at West Point. He also got a doctorate of science in Astronautics from MIT(Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Cambridge. He has honorary degrees from 6 colleges and universities. Aldrin has received many decorations and awards, including the Presidential Medal for freedom, the Robert J. Collier Trophy, the Robert H. Goddard Trophy, and the Harmon International Trophy. On 11/11/66, Aldrin and James Lovell were launched into space in Gemini 12 spacecraft. He established a new record for extravehicular activity- spending 5 and 1/2 hours outside the spacecraft. He then served as lunar module pilot for Apollo 11, accompanied by Neil Armstrong. He became the 2nd man to step on the moon.
Michael Collins (1930-Present)
Michael Collins was born in Rome, Italy on Oct. 31, 1930. He is married to the former Patricia M. Finnegan of Boston, Massachusetts and has 2 daughters and 1 son. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point just like Buzz Aldrin. He presented the Presidential Medal for Freedom in 1969 and was a recipient of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. Collins has also approximately 5,000 hours of flight time. He served as a backup pilot for the Gemini VII mission and a pilot for the Gemini X mission. He then served as the command module pilot for the Apollo 11 mission. He was aboard the command module while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped on the moon.