Neil Armstrong was born August 5, 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio.  Armstrong began taking courses in Aerospace Engineering in 1947, but took a leave of absence to join the U.S. Navy. Armstrong was a pilot in the Navy and flew 78 missions during the Korean War. In 1952, he withdrew from the Navy, and became a Lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve, while working towards a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University. In 1958, Armstrong enrolled in the United States Air Force “First man in space” program. In 1962, Armstrong was invited to join the NASA Astronaut Corps, and immediately accepted the offer, making him the first ever civilian Astronaut. Armstrong was the command pilot on the Gemini 8 mission, and later the backup command pilot on the Gemini 11 mission. Armstrong’s final mission for NASA was Apollo 11; he was the Command Pilot, and the first human to walk on the moon. Armstrong was famously quoted saying “This is one small step for man; One giant leap for mankind” as he took his first step on the lunar surface. Armstrong Died on August 25, 2012 from complications in a Cardio Vascular Procedure.

Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. was born on December 20, 1930, in Glenn Ridge, New Jersey.  Aldrin went on to study Mechanical Engineering, at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. Following graduation, he entered the United States Air Force, as a 2nd Lieutenant. Aldrin was an active Jet Fighter Pilot during the Korean War. After the war, Aldrin earned his PhD. in Aeronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1963. Later that year Aldrin was selected to be an Astronaut. Aldrin was on the backup crew of the Gemini 9A mission, before Piloting the Gemini 12 mission. On June 20, 1969 Buzz Aldrin became the second man to ever walk on the moon. After leaving NASA, Aldrin returned to the Air Force working as a base Manager.

Michael Collins was born on October 31, 1930 in Rome, Italy. Collins’ came from a military family and moved constantly in his youth. Collins went on to study at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. Following Graduation, Collins entered the United States Air Force, to avoid the possible accusations of nepotism in his service (His uncle was the Chief of Staff for the entire United States Army). Collins was a United States Air Force Test Pilot for much of his active duty. In 1962, Collins applied and was accepted into the NASA Astronaut Program. He worked on the Prime Crew for the Gemini 10 mission, and was the Command Module Pilot for the Apollo 11 mission. Collins was the only Astronaut on the mission that actually landed on the moon.