Neil Armstrong led NASA’s historic Apollo 11 Moon landing 50 years ago this month, launching into space on July 16, 1969. But, speaking to mark to historic date in Washington, US Vice President Mike Pence revealed how the first man to walk on the moon was nearly involved in a horror disaster just months before the launch. Pence revealed how Armstrong was called the ‘Ice Commander’ and played a heroic role in ensuring the safety of his fellow astronauts during the moon landing.
The US Vice President said: “Among his colleagues, it is important to remember on this day, when we unveil this historic space suit, Neil Armstrong was called the ‘Ice Commander’.
“Generations who enjoy this display, I think would do well to remember the straight of character and courage of this man.
“Just months before Apollo 11, Armstrong lost control of an ungainly training contrivance designed to help astronauts train for the moon landing, and history records that he ejected just three seconds before it crashed to the ground and exploded in a ball of fire.
“More remarkably than that, we are told Armstrong just dusted himself off that day and spent the rest of that day behind his desk.”
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He added: “His courage was displayed perhaps nowhere more profoundly than in the moments just before the Apollo 11 Lunar Module landed on the surface of the moon.
“It was that coolness during the original landing that likely saved the lives of the two astronauts that were aboard the Lunar Module.
“When the original landing area turned out to be so full of large boulders that landing there would have doomed the mission and the crew, history records again that Neil Armstrong calmly took the controls of the Lunar Module, skimmed across the top of the Lunar surface, and manually found a safe spot to touch down.
“By the time he set down, to what we all know to be Tranquility Base, Armstrong and Aldrin had 17 seconds of fuel left remaining, it is incredible.”
NASA said the incident involving Armstrong took place in May 1968, when he was then a backup commander for the Apollo 9 mission.
Armstrong had been airborne about five minutes when he suddenly lost control of the vehicle. About 200 feet above the ground, he chose to eject.
Exactly 50 years ago, the three Apollo 11 astronauts boarded a powerful Saturn 5 rocket aimed at the Moon.
Armstrong died at the age of 82 on August 27, 2012, following complications from cardiovascular procedures.
In an official statement, Aldrin wrote: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of my good friend, and space exploration companion, Neil Armstrong today.”
He added: “I had truly hoped that on July 20th, 2019, Neil, Mike and I would be standing together to commemorate the 50th anniversary of our Moon landing, as we also anticipated the continued expansion of humanity into space, that our small mission helped make possible.
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“Regrettably, this is not to be. Neil will most certainly be there with us in spirit.”
Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin were made recipients of the US Presidential Medal of Honor upon their safe return to Earth on July 24, 1969.
Robert Behnken, then chief of NASA’s Astronaut Office, said: “Neil Armstrong was a very personal inspiration to all of us within the astronaut office.
“His historic step onto the Moon’s surface was the foundation for many of our personal dreams to become astronauts.
“The only thing that outshone his accomplishments was his humility about those accomplishments.
“We will miss him as a friend, mentor, explorer and ambassador for the American spirit of ingenuity.”