First Man on

the Moon
On 20th July 1969, an American astronaut, Neil
Armstrong, became the first person to walk on the
Moon. An estimated 600 million people watched
on television as he and crewmate ‘Buzz’ Aldrin
stepped onto its surface, placing their names
firmly in the history books forever.

The Beginning
Neil Armstrong was born on 5th August 1930, Did You Know...?
in Ohio, USA. His passion for flying started at A modern smartphone is several
a young age. When Armstrong was aged two, thousand times more powerful than
his parents took him to Cleveland Air Race to the computers used for Apollo 11!
see aircraft up close. Four years later, his father
paid for them both to ride in a plane at a local
airport. It was here where he later started flying
lessons – paid for himself by working after
school in a pharmacy!

Throughout his childhood, Armstrong spent hours on his passion. As a result,

at 16 years old he passed his pilot’s licence. It was before he could even drive
a car! Armstrong was known for being calm and controlled in a crisis. He flew fighter planes
in the Navy and later joined NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). In
September 1962, he was accepted to their astronaut corps, which would eventually lead to
the ultimate test of control: flying all the way to the Moon and landing safely.

A Close Call
Neil Armstrong’s first trip into space almost ended in disaster. It was one of many
experimental tests to see if a trip to the Moon was truly possible. Armstrong, whose mission
was to pilot Gemini 8 to dock with another spacecraft, felt confident despite the fact that his
spacecraft was travelling at an incredible 18 thousand miles per hour.

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 First Man on
the Moon
Although the mission went well at first, trouble was
brewing. Suddenly, a warning light came on because
a thruster was faulty. Consequently, Armstrong and
his co-pilot started to spin uncontrollably.

They were in danger of passing out. Luckily,

Armstrong’s quick thinking saved their lives due
to the fact that he pressed the button to power the
back-up thrusters and rescue the mission. Now he
had proven himself ready to fly to the Moon.

Apollo 11 and the At nearly 11 o’clock at night on 20th July 1969,

Moon Landing Armstrong stepped off the Eagle’s ladder onto the
Moon’s surface. His message travelled worldwide
On 16th July 1969, three years and
on Earth as radio and television broadcasts:
countless tests after the Gemini 8
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for
mission, the Apollo 11 mission
mankind.”
launched and the Saturn 5 rocket
blasted Neil Armstrong and crew Later Life
mates Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin and Michael
After returning to Earth on 24th July
Collins into space towards the Moon.
1969, Armstrong retired from being an
The journey through space took four days. astronaut and became a professor,
After they arrived on 20th July, Armstrong sharing his expertise and passion
undertook the greatest challenge of his for space with others. Neil
career. The crew split up: Collins stayed in Armstrong died on 25th August
orbit around the Moon doing experiments 2012, aged 82.
while Armstrong and Aldrin boarded ‘the
Eagle’ lunar module to begin the descent to
the surface.

After further testing, Armstrong carefully

piloted the Eagle down and avoided a large
crater. Due to his excellent flying skills, they
both landed safely in the Sea of Tranquility
(a large crater) on the Moon.

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 First Man on the Moon

Questions
1. On which day did Neil Armstrong walk on the Moon? Tick one.

21st July 1969

20th July 1930
20th July 1969
5th August 1930

2. Which statements describing Neil Armstrong are true? Tick two.

He passed his pilot’s licence aged 17.

He paid for flying lessons himself by working after school.
He was known for having a temper and losing control.
He flew fighter planes in the Navy.

3. Fill in the missing words.

Neil Armstrong’s trip into space almost ended in .

4. Find and copy a phrase to show that something was about to go wrong with the
Gemini 8 mission.

5. What did Neil Armstrong do in order to save his and his co-pilot's lives on the
Gemini 8 mission?

6. Why has the author described Armstrong’s Moon landing as the ‘greatest challenge of
his career’?

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7. Why do you think preparing for the trip to the Moon took three years, following the
Gemini 8 close call?

8. Using evidence from the text, explain why you think Neil Armstrong was chosen as the
pilot for the dangerous mission to the Moon.

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 First Man on the Moon

Answers
1. On which day did Neil Armstrong walk on the Moon? Tick one.
21st July 1969
20th July 1930
20th July 1969
5th August 1930
2. Which statements describing Neil Armstrong are true? Tick two.
He passed his pilot’s licence aged 17.
He paid for flying lessons himself by working after school.
He was known for having a temper and losing control.
He flew fighter planes in the Navy.
3. Fill in the missing words.
Neil Armstrong’s first trip into space almost ended in disaster.

4. Find and copy a phrase to show that something was about to go wrong with the
Gemini 8 mission.
trouble was brewing

5. What did Neil Armstrong do in order to save his and his co-pilot's lives on the
Gemini 8 mission?
He pressed the button to power the back-up thrusters.

6. Why has the author described Armstrong’s Moon landing as the ‘greatest challenge of
his career’?
Pupils' own responses, such as: It was the ‘ultimate test of control’ and he had to carefully
pilot the Eagle and avoid a crater. It was hardest thing he had ever done in his life.

7. Why do you think preparing for the trip to the Moon took three years, following the
Gemini 8 close call?
Pupils' own responses, such as: There were ‘countless tests’ to ensure that the mission
was as safe as possible.

8. Using evidence from the text, explain why you think Neil Armstrong was chosen as the
pilot for the dangerous mission to the Moon.
Pupils' own responses, such as: I think that Neil Armstrong was chosen because the
text says that he was known for being 'calm and controlled in a crisis'. Also, he showed
quick-thinking during the Gemini 8 missions. These skills would both be useful in flying
to the Moon.

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 First Man on
the Moon
On 20th July 1969, an
American astronaut, Neil
Armstrong, became the first
person to walk on the Moon. An
estimated 600 million people
watched on television as he and
crewmate ‘Buzz’ Aldrin stepped
onto its surface, cementing their
names in the history of mankind.
The Beginning
Neil Alden Armstrong was
born on 5th August 1930, in
Ohio, USA. From a young age,
he developed a passion for
aviation. At two years old, his
parents took him to Cleveland
Air Race to see aircraft up close.
Four years later, at age six, his
father paid for them both to
ride as passengers in a small
plane at a local airport. Here,
he later started flying lessons
– paid for himself by working
after school in a pharmacy.
Armstrong devoted hours to his
passion. Consequently, at 16
years old he passed his pilot’s
licence – before he could even
drive a car!
Neil Armstrong
Known for being resilient and calm in a crisis,
Armstrong was used to flying in dangerous situations.
He flew sophisticated fighter planes in the Navy and
later joined NACA, which would later become NASA. In
September 1962, he was accepted to their astronaut
corps, which would eventually lead to the ultimate
test: flying to the Moon!
A Close Call
Neil Armstrong’s first trip into space almost ended
in catastrophe. The Gemini missions were a practice
run for space. Was it possible for two objects – each
travelling ten times faster than a bullet – to dock
in orbit? Armstrong was responsible for piloting the
Gemini VIII space capsule, travelling at a
mind-boggling 18,000 miles per hour. Although
docking with the target went smoothly, trouble was
brewing. Suddenly, the thrusters malfunctioned.
Armstrong and his co-pilot were sent into a wild spin.
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 First Man on
the Moon
In danger of losing consciousness, it was only
Armstrong’s quick-thinking in hastily switching to
back-up thrusters that saved the mission and their
lives. It had been a close call but he had proven
himself to be a worthy astronaut, capable of a
mission to the Moon.

Apollo 11 and the

Moon Landing Fun Facts
On 16th July 1969, three years after the Gemini
• The computing power of a
VIII mission, the Apollo 11 mission launched
modern smartphone is several
and the Saturn V rocket blasted Neil Armstrong
thousand times greater than that
and crew mates Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin and Michael
of the Apollo XI computers!
Collins into space towards the Moon.
• The Saturn V rocket was the
The journey took four days. It was not until
largest rocket ever built. It stood
the night of 20th July that Armstrong had
111 metres tall which was higher
the greatest challenge of his career. The crew
than the Statue of Liberty!
separated: Collins stayed in orbit on the
command module conducting experiments and • The Sea of Tranquillity on the
taking photographs. Meanwhile, Armstrong and Moon is not a real sea! It is a
Aldrin boarded the lunar module (nicknamed ‘the large crater on the Moon which
Eagle’) to begin the descent to the Moon. looks very dark from Earth.
Armstrong, who expertly guided the Eagle
down to the Moon’s surface, narrowly avoided
a crater in order to carefully land in the Sea of Later Life
Tranquillity.
After returning to Earth on 24th July
At 10:56 p.m. on 20 July 1969, a further special
th
1969, Armstrong retired from being
moment came. As he stepped off the ladder, an astronaut and became a professor,
Armstrong’s message travelled worldwide on Earth sharing his expertise and passion for
as radio and television broadcasts: “That’s one space with others. Neil Armstrong
small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” died on 25th August 2012, aged 82.

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 First Man on the Moon

Questions
1. What happened on 20th July 1969? Tick two.

An American astronaut was born.

Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon.
About 600 million people watched an incredible piece of history on TV.
Buzz Aldrin stepped on to the surface of the Moon by himself.

2. Armstrong devoted hours to his passion.

Which word below is most similar in meaning to 'devoted'? Tick one.

wasted
lost
voted
dedicated

3. Find and copy two qualities that describe Neil Armstrong.

1.
2.

4. Fill in the missing words.

Consequently, at years old he passed his pilot’s licence – before he could
even a car.

5. The author describes the Gemini VIII space capsule as travelling at a ‘mind-boggling
18,000 miles per hour’. Why do you think the author has used the word ‘mind-boggling’?

6. What was special about the rocket which blasted Neil Armstrong and his crewmates
into space?

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 First Man on the Moon

7. Summarise what happened during Neil Armstrong’s ‘greatest challenge of his career’.

8. Does it surprise you that the Apollo 11 computers were powerful enough to ensure they
reached the Moon safely? Justify your answer with evidence from the text.

Circle one: Yes / No

9. Explain, using evidence from the text, why Neil Armstrong was an excellent choice to land
the Eagle on the Moon.

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 First Man on the Moon

Answers
1. What happened on 20th July 1969? Tick two.

An American astronaut was born.

Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon.
About 600 million people watched an incredible piece of history on TV.
Buzz Aldrin stepped on to the surface of the Moon by himself.

2. Armstrong devoted hours to his passion.

Which word below is most similar in meaning to 'devoted'? Tick one.

wasted
lost
voted
dedicated

3. Find and copy two qualities that describe Neil Armstrong.

1. resilient
2. calm in a crisis

4. Fill in the missing words.

Consequently, at sixteen years old he passed his pilot’s licence – before he could even
drive a car.

5. The author describes the Gemini VIII space capsule as travelling at a ‘mind-boggling
18,000 miles per hour’. Why do you think the author has used the word ‘mind-boggling’?
Pupils' own responses, such as: The author has used this word to emphasise the extreme
speed at which they were travelling; it would make our brains ache or minds boggle just
to imagine 18 thousand mph!

6. What was special about the rocket which blasted Neil Armstrong and his crewmates
into space?
The rocket was very powerful. It was called the Saturn 5 rocket and was the largest
rocket ever built. It stood 111 metres tall which was higher than the Statue of Liberty.

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 First Man on the Moon

7. Summarise what happened during Neil Armstrong’s ‘greatest challenge of his career’.
Pupils' own responses, such as:Neil Armstrong boarded the lunar module (called the
Eagle) with his crewmate Aldrin and then expertly piloted it down the Moon. He missed
a crater and then carefully landed in the Sea of Tranquillity, which was a very difficult
and challenging thing to do.

8. Does it surprise you that the Apollo 11 computers were powerful enough to ensure they
reached the Moon safely? Justify your answer with evidence from the text.

Circle one: Yes / No

Pupils' own responses, such as:It says that modern smartphones are several thousand
times more powerful that the Apollo 11 computer so yes, it does surprise me that they
were able to reach the moon.

9. Explain, using evidence from the text, why Neil Armstrong was an excellent choice to land
the Eagle on the Moon.
Pupils' own responses, such as: Neil Armstrong was an excellent choice to land the
Eagle on the Moon because: he was resilient and able to remain calm in a crisis; he had
excellent flying experience; he had shown he was quick-thinking during the Gemini VIII
mission.

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EIL ARMSTRON
First Man on the Moon

On 20th July 1969, an American astronaut called

Neil Armstrong achieved what had long been thought
impossible in becoming the first person to walk on the
Moon. An estimated 600 million people tuned in on
television as he and a crewmate, Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin,
stepped onto its surface, cementing their names in the
history of mankind. Furthermore, it was Neil Armstrong
who had had the challenging task of manually piloting
and landing the lunar module on to the Moon.
Fun Fact!
How had he achieved such a difficult, dangerous After returning to Earth, the
manoeuvre? Why had he been selected for the role? intrepid explorers spent
What were his chosen words to those millions of eighteen days in quarantine due
transfixed viewers? Read on to discover more about to the risk of contamination
the first man on the Moon. by lunar microbes (AKA
moonbugs!).

The Beginning Armstrong was renowned for his

Neil Alden Armstrong was born on 5th
August 1930, in Ohio, USA. His passion
for aviation blossomed from an early
age. When Armstrong was aged two,
his parents took him to Cleveland Air
Race to see aircraft in proximity. By age
six, his father had paid for them to be
passengers in a Ford Tri-Motor aeroplane.
He started flying lessons in his teens,
in a basic two-seater ‘Aeronca Champ’
plane – funded by his after-school job in
a pharmacy. Armstrong, whose passion
was clear to his family and friends,
practised and persevered for hours on
end. As a consequence, at the tender age
of 16 he achieved his pilot’s licence, even
before his driving licence!
resilience and self-control in a crisis;
these strengths helped him to fly in
dangerous situations. From that simple
Aeronca Champ to sophisticated fighter
planes in the Navy, Armstrong gained
experience quickly. At NACA, which
would later become NASA, he was
responsible for flying numerous aircraft:
propeller-, jet- and even rocket-powered
ones! In September 1962, he joined their
astronaut corps, which would eventually
lead to his historic trip to the Moon; the
ultimate test of his flying prowess.
A Close Call
Neil Armstrong’s initial space voyage had
almost catastrophic consequences.

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The Gemini missions
were a trial-run for
space exploration. Was it
possible for two objects –
each travelling ten times
faster than a bullet – to
simultaneously fly and then
dock in orbit?
It was Armstrong’s
responsibility to pilot the
Gemini VIII space capsule,
flying at an astonishing 18
000 miles per hour, to dock
with a radio-controlled target.
Incredibly, the docking had
gone smoothly but meanwhile,
trouble was brewing. All
of a sudden, the thrusters
malfunctioned, resulting in
Armstrong and his co-pilot
being hurled into a wild spin,
rotating at a nauseating one
revolution per second.
The astronauts were in grave
danger; at any second, they
could lose consciousness.
Undaunted, it was
Armstrong’s quick thinking
which saved the mission: he
hastily switched to back-up
thrusters. Thus, he had
proven himself capable of a
mission to the Moon.
First Man on
the Moon
Apollo 11 and the Moon Landing
On 16th July 1969, three years after the risky Gemini
VIII mission, the powerful Saturn 5 rocket blasted Neil
Armstrong and crew mates Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin and
Michael Collins into space for the culmination of years of
preparation: Apollo 11’s voyage to the Moon.
After four days’ travel, Apollo 11 reached its target but
it was not until the night of 20th July that Armstrong
embarked on the greatest challenge of his career.
The crew diverged. Collins remained in orbit on the command
module, Columbia, conducting experiments. Meanwhile,
Armstrong and Aldrin boarded the lunar module (nicknamed,
‘the Eagle’) to cautiously begin the descent.
Expertly, Armstrong guided the Eagle down to the surface,
narrowly avoiding a crater in the process, in order to
carefully and painstakingly land in a large crater called
the Sea of Tranquility.
At 22:56 EST on 20th July 1969, his defining moment came.
As he stepped off the ladder from the Eagle’s hatch, planting
one foot firmly on the Moon’s dusty surface, Armstrong’s
message was broadcast live across planet Earth: “That’s one
small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Later Life
After returning to Earth on 24th July 1969, Armstrong
chose to retire from being an astronaut and became a
professor, sharing his expertise and passion for space
with others. However, he was not finished with facing
daunting challenges. In 1985, Armstrong joined a group of
renowned explorers – such as the first man to climb Mount
Everest, Edmund Hillary – on a journey to the North Pole.
Armstrong said that he was curious to see what the North
Pole looked like from ground level, as he had only seen it
from the Moon.
Neil Armstrong died on 25th August 2012, aged 82.
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 First Man on the Moon

Questions
1. What did American astronaut Neil Armstrong achieve which people had long thought
impossible? Tick one.

Having 600 million people watch him on television.

Returning safely from the Moon.
Becoming the first person to walk on the Moon.
Cementing his name in the history of mankind.

2. Furthermore, it was Neil Armstrong who had had the challenging task of manually
piloting and landing the lunar module on the Moon.
What does the phrase 'manually piloting' mean? Tick one.

flying by hand, not on autopilot

using a manual to fly
having a challenging task
being a dangerous pilot

3. Give two examples of the names or types of aircraft which Armstrong flew before his
mission to the Moon.
1.
2.

4. Neil Armstrong’s initial space voyage nearly had catastrophic consequences.

Explain what is meant by the word 'catastrophic' in this sentence.

5. What did Neil Armstrong do during the Gemini VIII mission which ‘proved himself to be a
worthy astronaut’?

6. Why do you think there was a long gap between the Gemini VIII trial-run into space and
the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon?

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 First Man on the Moon
7. Why do you think it was important for the inhabitants of Earth that the astronauts stayed
in quarantine after returning?

8. Explain why the author has described the night of 20th July as the ‘greatest challenge of
Neil Armstrong’s career’?

9. Do you think Neil Armstrong’s parents were supportive of his career choice? Explain how
you know, using evidence from the text.

Circle one: Yes / No

10. Summarise what kind of person Neil Armstrong was and how this helped him achieve all
he did in life.

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 First Man on the Moon

Answers
1. What did American astronaut Neil Armstrong achieve which people had long thought
impossible? Tick one.

Having 600 million people watch him on television.

Returning safely from the Moon.
Becoming the first person to walk on the Moon.
Cementing his name in the history of mankind.

2. Furthermore, it was Neil Armstrong who had had the challenging task of manually
piloting and landing the lunar module on the Moon.
What does the phrase 'manually piloting' mean? Tick one.

flying by hand, not on autopilot

using a manual to fly
having a challenging task
being a dangerous pilot

3. Give two examples of the names or types of aircraft which Armstrong flew before his
mission to the Moon.
Two examples from the text, such as: Aeronca Champ, fighter planes, propeller-powered
aircraft, jet-powered aircraft, rocket-powered aircraft. (Please note: NOT the Ford Tri-
Motor aeroplane, in which he was a passenger.)

4. Neil Armstrong’s initial space voyage nearly had catastrophic consequences.

Explain what is meant by the word 'catastrophic' in this sentence.
The word catastrophic means his initial space voyage was close to being a disaster
because it very nearly went wrong.

5. What did Neil Armstrong do during the Gemini VIII mission which ‘proved himself to be a
worthy astronaut’?
Neil Armstrong used quick-thinking to switch to back up that saved the mission.

6. Why do you think there was a long gap between the Gemini VIII trial-run into space and
the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon?
Pupils’ own responses, such as: Apollo 11 was the culmination of years of preparation
and the Gemini VIII had been risky.

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 First Man on the Moon
7. Why do you think it was important for the inhabitants of Earth that the astronauts stayed
in quarantine after returning?
Pupils’ own responses, such as: Moonbugs might bring disease to our planet.

8. Explain why the author has described the night of 20th July as the ‘greatest challenge of
Neil Armstrong’s career’.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: He flew the Eagle lunar module down to the Moon’s
surface and this was incredibly difficult.

9. Do you think Neil Armstrong’s parents were supportive of his career choice? Explain how
you know, using evidence from the text.

Circle one: Yes / No

Pupils’ own responses, such as: His parents took him to Cleveland Air Race to see
aircraft and his father paid for them to be passengers in a Ford Tri-Motor aeroplane.
Also, his passion was clear to his family so they supported him to become
a pilot.

10. Summarise what kind of person Neil Armstrong was and how this helped him achieve all
he did in life.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: He was dedicated, hard-working, passionate, resilient
and self-controlled and that these qualities helped him to become an astronaut and
land on the Moon.

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