Neil Armstrong

Stepping off the Lunar Module Eagle in 1969, Neil Armstrong became the ultimate symbol of human technological triumph by being the first human to walk on the Moon. His "small step" was the culmination of the intense Cold War Space Race and a testament to the bravery of the Apollo 11 mission. Before becoming an astronaut, he was a decorated naval aviator and test pilot who flew the hypersonic X-15. He was known for his calm under pressure, a trait that saved the mission during a hair-raising manual landing on the lunar surface. His name is forever etched in history as the pioneer of the final frontier.