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Armstrong was born on 5 August 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio.
He made 78 flights as a fighter pilot during the Korean War and was a test pilot on the X-15, during which time he brought it up to an altitude of 60 kilometres and a velocity of 6000 km per hour.
He was selected as an astronaut in September 1962 and by the time he was appointed Commander of the Apollo 11 mission he had more than 4000 hours flying time under his belt.
Neil Armstrong passed away on 25 August 2012 from complications from heart surgery he had earlier in the month. He underwent surgery to relieve four blocked coronary arteries on 7 August.