Astronauts are pioneers
who travel into outer space orbiting the earth and exploring
the unknown parts of our universe. There was one time when they
even made trips to the moon to take pictures and bring back rocks
to study. Astronaut Neil Armstrong was one of these famous astronauts
from the past and Buzz Aldrin another.
Neil
Armstrong would have been considered a normal but yet very bright and hard-working
child growing up. He never seemed to say no to doors that would open up.
Neil was born August 5,1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He went to University of
Southern California (USC) where he received a masters degree in Aerospace
Engineering. After that he received a degree in Aeronautical Engineering
from Purdue. During a the three years from 1949 to 1952, Neil was with the
Navy as a Naval Aviator. When he retired from the Navy he became a test
pilot. Eventually he was chosen for the Astronaut Corps. During this time
he was part of a backup crew in case something happened to the first crew.
Finally, Neil got his chance. 
On
March 16, 1966 he was asked to be an astronaut on a flight called Gemini
8. During that flight Neil and another crewmember named David Scott successfully
completed the first docking in space between two vehicles. From there Neil
Armstrongs most famous feat occurred. He was the first person to walk on
the moon. He commanded Apollo 11 the United States first attempt to send
someone to walk on the moon. His crewmen let their captain, Neil, be the
first man to walk, and play golf on the moon. And because there is no wind
on the moon his foot print will stay in the dirt on the moon forever. Wow
- now that is amazing!!
Edwin
"Buzz" Aldrin was another famous American astronaut. He was born
January 20, 1930 in Montclair, New Jersey. After graduating from Montclair
High School, Buzz went to the United States Military Academy in West point
New York were he graduated third in his class and got a Bachelor of Science
Degree. From there he went to Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge,
Massachusetts. It was here he received his Doctorates Degree in Aeronautics.
Aldrin was chosen for the Astronaut Corps in 1963, three years before Armstrong
was chosen in 1966. 
Buzz
had his first space flight opportunity by November 11, 1966 on the Gemini
12. He and the Command pilot James Lovell were put in space for a total
of four days. During that time Buzz set a record for the longest time spent
out of a spaceship. It was a total of five and a half hours. His greatest
yet least known feat was being the Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 11. On
that mission, Buzz was right after Armstrong, hopping down the ladder onto
the moon.
Both of these astronauts should go down
into the Space History Hall of Fame if there ever was such a place. Visit
this Neil Armstrong Biography. Or this Buzz Aldrin Biography.