Neil Armstrong, dies at age 82.

2012-08-25 173

Neil Armstrong dead at 82.

The former U.S. astronaut was the first man to set foot on the moon on July 20th, 1969

He was once asked how he felt knowing his footprints would likely stay on the moon's surface for thousands of years. He said,: "I kind of hope that somebody goes up there one of these days and cleans them up," he said.

The Apollo 11 moon mission turned out to be Armstrong's last space flight.

Armstrong underwent a heart-bypass surgery earlier this month, just two days after his birthday on Aug. 5, to relieve blocked coronary arteries.

His family released a statement saying: "We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures," the family said in a statement. "Neil was our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.