Neil Armstrong was an American astronaut who became the first person to walk on the Moon in 1969, as commander of the Apollo 11 mission. Before joining NASA, he flew 78 combat missions as a Navy pilot in the Korean War and later worked as a test pilot, flying the rocket-powered X-15 to the edge of space. His words as he stepped onto the lunar surface — "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" — became instantly famous around the world. He remained modest about his achievement for the rest of his life, often praising the huge team of people who made the mission possible.