Neil A. Armstrong, National Aeronautics & Space Administration. X-15 Pilot No. 7.

courtesy Armstrong Flight Research Center

High School Band Officers: M. Hartup, Neil, and K. Brandt.

courtesy author's collection

Armstrong (upper left) with his VF-51 squadron mates aboard the USS Essex: 1951.

courtesy author's collection

Wedding of Janet Shearon and Neil Armstrong: 28 Jan. 1956.

courtesy author's collection

Armstrong in the X-15 cockpit soon after being assigned to the program.

courtesy Armstrong Flight Research Center

Armstrong checks out the Q-Ball sensor which is installed on the nose of the X-15.

courtesy Armstrong Flight Research Center

Dave Graham, in charge of Northrop's wind tunnel, and EC Welch, head of Nortronics Control System Development, ready the Flight Path Control Sensor, also known simply as the "Q-Ball," for low flow sensitivity tests.

courtesy Bob Hayos, Nortronics

Nortronics engineers David Ruch and George Mills in the wind tunnel with the Q-Ball.

courtesy Bob Hayos, Nortronics

Al Vogel of the Servo-Electronics section and David Ruch of the Wind Tunnel crew.

courtesy Bob Hayos, Nortronics

The day after Armstrong's flight 1-32-53, Wanda Capps gives the X-15 wing a lift.

courtesy Armstrong Flight Research Center

Neil Armstrong with Jack McKay.

courtesy Armstrong Flight Research Center

Armstrong confers with engineers John McTigue and Elmor Adkins.

courtesy Dave Stoddard collection

Armstrong exits the suiting van.

courtesy Armstrong Flight Research Center

Armstrong heads toward the B-52/X-15 combination to climb aboard the X-15.

courtesy Dave Stoddard collection

A rear view of the B-52 and mated X-15.

courtesy Dave Stoddard collection

X-15 No. 3 sits for a portrait following Armstrong's third flight: 3-1-2 on 20 Dec. 1961.

courtesy Armstrong Flight Research Center

X-15 No. 3 two days prior to its second flight: 3-2-3 on 17 Jan. 1962.

courtesy Armstrong Flight Research Center

Testing on X-15 No. 3 in the NASA hangar prior to its third flight: 3-3-7 on 5 Apr. 1962.

courtesy Armstrong Flight Research Center

Armstrong in the cockpit of X-15 no. 3, ready for flight 3-4-8 on 20 Apr. 1962.

courtesy Bob Hayos, Nortronics

X-15 No. 1 prepares for launch. A T-38 chase plane is visible below and behind.

courtesy Tony Landis collection

Armstrong prepares to ingress X-15 No. 1: 1-32-53 on 26 Jul. 1962.

courtesy Armstrong Flight Research Center

Armstrong is greeted on the lakebed following either flight 1-18-31 or 3-1-2.

courtesy Armstrong Flight Research Center

Gathering around the cockpit immediately after landing.

courtesy Armstrong Flight Research Center

Armstrong poses in his pressure suit at the nose of the X-15.

courtesy Armstrong Flight Research Center

Drag marks on Delamar Dry Lake after Neil's F-104 incident: 21 May 1962.

courtesy Armstrong Flight Research Center

Measurements show how low Neil was when the F-104 gear was released.

courtesy Armstrong Flight Research Center

The crew of Gemini 8, Neil Armstrong and Dave Scott.

courtesy author's collection

Launch of GT-8.

courtesy author's collection

After a harrowing mission, Gemini 8 is recovered 16 Mar. 1966.

courtesy author's collection

Neil presents his old boss, Paul Bikle, with a flag flown aboard Gemini 8.

courtesy Armstrong Flight Research Center

Paul Bikle's record-setting Schweizer SGS 1-23E at Hollister Airport, Hollister, CA.

courtesy author's collection

The best known photo of Neil Armstrong on the Moon from Apollo 11: July 1969.

courtesy author's collection

Neil Armstrong painted by Robert McCall, originally for the Dryden Flight Research Center, now renamed in honor of Neil as the Armstrong Flight Research Center.

courtesy author's collection