Moon mistake

The late Neil Armstrong had 
all the characteristics Americans normally associate with a German-Scot and was more a 
monosyllabic engineer than a charismatic test pilot.

He was the most technically capable of the pilots involved in early space research, but like other pilot-engineers he was not a natural airman and had his fair share of accidents.

When Nasa formed its “Astronaut Corps”, he was one of only two civilian pilots but he would not be the first civilian astronaut – that was Valentina Tereshkova on Vostok 6. Armstrong’s late decision to take over manual control and search for a safe landing left the lunar module short of fuel and stopped every heart at mission control in Houston.

Sadly he never forgave himself for blowing his lines and substituting “man” for “me” in what should have been an 
immortal: “One small step for me, one giant leap for mankind.”

(Dr) John Cameron

Howard Place

St Andrews