E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Bill Ingalls / NASA
U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Paul Nagy and Carol Armstrong, wife of Neil Armstrong, commit the cremated remains of the Apollo 11 astronaut to sea during a service held onboard the USS Philippine Sea today in the Atlantic Ocean.
The cremated remains of Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon, were committed to the Atlantic Ocean today, in accordance with the Navy flier's final wish.
Armstrong, who took that historic "one small step" onto the lunar surface in July 1969, died at the age of 82 on Aug. 25, after suffering complications from heart surgery. An estimated 1,500 people — including fellow space icons, political VIPs, his family and admirers — turned out for a national memorial service Thursday at the Washington National Cathedral in the nation's capital.
The setting for today's burial-at-sea ceremony on the Navy missile cruiser Philippine Sea, operating out of its Florida homeport, was much more intimate. Armstrong's widow, Carol, played a key role in the proceedings: Assisted by Navy Lt. Cmdr. Paul Nagy, she passed the remains overboard, then accepted the folded-up U.S. flag from from the ship's commanding officer, Capt. Steve Shinego.
The service followed the Navy's time-honored tradition, featuring remarks by Navy chaplain Donald Troast, three volleys fired in tribute from a firing squad, and the playing of "Taps." Family members and a smattering of close friends attended the ceremony alongside white-uniformed Navy personnel. The ship's flag flew at half-mast. In fact, U.S. flags around the world were flying at half-staff today in Armstrong's honor.
Armstrong was not only a veteran of NASA's Gemini 8 mission in 1966 and the Apollo 11 moonshot in 1969, which came at the climax of the U.S.-Soviet space race. Long before he became an astronaut, Armstrong was a veteran of 78 combat missions as a Navy fighter pilot during the Korean War. He could have had a memorial in a place of honor at Arlington National Cemetery, but instead chose a Navy burial at sea. That's totally consistent with Armstrong's image as a "reluctant American hero" who had no desire for celebrity.
The family did not provide details about today's service, but Navy spokesman Ed Zeigler said the procedure typically calls for the urn and its contents to be deposited into the ocean. Nowadays, many of the urns used for this purpose are biodegradable, meaning that they dissolve soon after being placed in the water.
Here are some of NASA photographer Bill Ingalls' pictures from the ceremony, posted to the agency headquarters' Flickr gallery:
Bill Ingalls / NASA
Family members of the late Neil Armstrong and members of the U.S. Navy stand during the burial-at-sea service on Friday.
Bill Ingalls / NASA
Members of the U.S. Navy ceremonial guard hold an American flag over the cremated remains of Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong during Friday's service.
Bill Ingalls / NASA
U.S. Navy Capt. Steve Shinego, commanding officer of the USS Philippine Sea, presents the U.S. flag to Carol Armstrong following the burial-at-sea service on Friday. One of Neil Armstrong's sons, Rick, is sitting next to Carol, with other family members nearby. Among the attendees were the astronaut's other son, Mark; and his brother and sister, Dean Armstrong and June Hoffman.
More about Neil Armstrong:
- Nation bids farewell to first moonwalker
- The lighter side of Neil Armstrong
- Here's how to honor Neil Armstrong
- Lunar pioneers and VIPs pay respects
- PhotoBlog: Tributes from family, friends, nation
- Neil Armstrong, first to walk on moon, dies at 82
- Armstrong family request: Wink at the moon
- Neil Armstrong would still choose to go to the moon
Alan Boyle is NBCNews.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter and adding the Cosmic Log page to your Google+ presence. To keep up with Cosmic Log as well as NBCNews.com's other stories about science and space, sign up for the Tech & Science newsletter, delivered to your email in-box every weekday. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.
Leave a Comment:
God Speed kind Sir. May you forever explore new frontiers.
What a great American icon.
How heartwarming it is to see Carol Armstrong's name and picture in a story about her hero husband. It is sad and disrespectful that her name and picture are left out of so many online articles. Neil married her, she is the one who received the flags, and she is the one who buried him. She's a hero too and deserves better. Bless Neil and you too Carol.
Neil, your one small step brought the world together as one, a giant leap indeed . . .
All mankind shall never forget your humble service, dedication and love for exploration.
As we turn our attention to Mars; to those who take that next small step, won't be taking that step alone.
You will be there too . . .
Farewell, Sir! You are missed.
Mr Neil Armstrong...... A true American hero....The first man to set foot on the Moon. Still Amazing...Rest in Peace.
He was certainly a very modest man--giving credit to the human race for the 'big leap'.
But his burial at sea (and all burials in general) is really a misnomer.
Why?
Because in less than 2 billion years the sun will vaporize the Earth and all our ions which make up our presence will be spewed forth as part of the solar wind....... (or some locked in the sun forever).
Then that's truly ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
A very brave American, R.I.P.
I know this will sound strange but why not have HONORED him by sending his remains to the moon?
I know if I had traveled so far it would have given me a great honor to view the earth as very few have ever done...
Can a man llive again?
@ Rich B. - Once a Navy man, always a Navy man. Despite his having made history by traveling to and walking on the moon, I think Mr. Armstrongs sensiblities made a Naval funeral a foregone conclusion.
I am so angry with Neil Armstrong about this. He should be in Arlington, or the Mall in Washington, or in a titanium sarcophagus under the Air and Space Museum. I've loved the image of Neil Armstrong all my life, but there is something fundamentally selfish about his decision to refuse to allow us a specific place to visit his remains. I will never think of him with the same degree of warmth again.
PS I *know* he has the legal right to do this, but it is wrong just the same. Bastard.
John from Redlands,
A little selfish of you to not consider Neils wishes and only your own?
At least you still have his pictures.
Get over yourself redlands! This was the man's wishes. Who are we to question it? Neil, You will always have a special place in America's heart! God Bless you and the USA!
Ok, so let me get this right, We throw ashes of TV stars who pretended to be astronauts into space, and we throw the ashes of a real astronaut into the ocean? I'm not getting that one.
Carol must be decades younger than what Neil was. I've seen women in there 40's look like that ! Was Neil religious at all? I don't think he ever related his experiences with god or any of that. He struck me as a spiritualist type.
He was a diest.
Ya whatever.
Neil Armstrong was the quintessential pioneer. Selfless and going where no man had gone before.
Neil Armstrong was known for telling really bad jokes about the moon, but then he always ended it with, "I guess you had to be there."
May your next travels be as wonderful as they were from the earth to the moon.
Condolences and deepest sympathies to the family for their (and our) loss.
God Speeed, I am sorry we only had the flag at half mast for you for one day while civilians who are not even in the Military get one week, you mean more to us than the current government thinks!
What a legacy to live through and be part of.
May the sea and her warm embrace carry your soul to all of the continents of Earth.
Someone once said that life was the impossibilty of death.
"It's a far better thing that I have done than I have every done before. A far better resting place that I goto than I have ever known."
"Young......"
"I feel young."
"Space......"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFheKByY908
"To boldy go......."
A great American hero and a truly humble man. Fair winds and following seas, Mister Armstrong! And, as has family has requested, the next time you look up at the moon, give a wink for Neil Armstrong.
And, as HIS family has requested... Sorry.
We have lost a great and admirable man.
We have lost a great and admirable man.
The moon is Neil Armstrong's monument Each night we look up into the sky at the Moon I remember Neil Armstrong was there 1st. I first heard about the adventure in a letter from my wife. I was in Vietnam in a far different world at the time.
As for the ship board ceremony, I have also considered the same for myself. I have one concern, After many inspections as a "White Hat" who dressed and inspected the burial detail??? I would put all 6 members on report for being out of uniform. That is no way to wear the white hat of a US Navy sailor. They look like flying saucers. The XO and Chief Master at Arms showed be reprimanded for allowing these sailors to be above deck out of uniform. It's disrespectful to the person they are there to honor.
I've asked a young Marine to be at my grave site to present arms and salute correctly...if I have earned this respect. I may have been a sailor for 20 years but as a hospital corpsman I know who protected my ass. Cpl. Josh M----- will see to it I have a proper farewell and all those in uniform will pass inspection.
RIP Neil Armstrong
This article is not about you, but thanks for sharing..