Rest In Peace, Neil Armstrong

Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon, has passed away. He was 82.

I am deeply saddened by the passing of this iconic American hero–a hero not only to science and the spirit of exploration, but a hero to all humanity whose one small step marked the dawn of a new era for our species.

The Washington Post has put up an excellent article  about Neil Armstrong, with the highlights of his career and personal life, and famed astronomy blogger Phil Plait has some inspiring words to add.

And here’s a great video of the Apollo 11 launch and landing, to the song “Faith of the Heart” from the Star Trek: Enterprise soundtrack.