Former U.S. astronaut and commander of the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong, passed away on Saturday at the age of 82, Reuters is reporting.
As the lead astronaut of NASA's historic Apollo 11 mission, Armstrong cemented his legacy as an American hero when, at the age of 38, he became the first human to set foot on the Moon on July 20, 1969. When he climbed down the ladder onto the cratered surface and planted an American flag, Armstrong uttered one of the most famous sentences in human history: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
According to Reuters, Armstrong has been dealing with with a series of serious heart-related issues. Earlier this month he underwent surgery to "relieve blocked coronary arteries."
Armstrong's family released the following statement to the press:
"We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. Neil was our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend."
[via Reuters]
