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Leaders of Congress honored astronauts John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins with congressional gold medals in a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda on Nov. 16, 2011. The Gold Medal, Congress' highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions, was first given to George Washington in 1776.
Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images
Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin and John Glenn attend a ceremony to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., Nov. 16, 2011.
The legendary crew of the first moon landing received the Congressional Gold Medal in a ceremony on Capitol Hill.
Ralph Morse / Getty Images
1969: Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins and Neil Armstrong,
Central Press / Getty Images
Apollo 11 astronauts Mike Collins (left), Neil Armstrong (centre), and Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin, in front of the Lunar Landing Module Simulator at the Kennedy Space Centre, USA, prior to their landing on the moon.
Science & Society Picture Library / Getty Images Contributor
Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins during training.
Time Life Pictures / Getty Images Contributor
1969: Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong are honored by a ticker tape parade in New York.
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No No No That is a not a picture after the splashdown. They went straight to isolation. That is likely a picture from training before the launch.
I agree. The CM in the picture is not a flight vehicle. It looks like a recovery training vehicle. Another great fail by a reporter that doesn't know the program and did little research.
deleted a double post
Truly these were some of the greatest Americans we ever made. The current generation should be humbled by these men.
I wonder what they think about the USA and how it has evolved into what it is now? I wish I could ask them.
I'd love to sit and have a drink with them and get an honest answer, not an interview answer.
You'd think this would've been done a long time ago.
Well done! These four are very deserving. But what about John W. Young? Check his resume and you will see he's flown 'em all from Gemini (first to change trajectory in space) to commander of the first space shuttle. Oh, and he's one of the 12 too. A remarkable career with many important firsts. These four are VERY deserving, but so is John W. Young!
Agreed.
I didn't have time to post this - adding it now....
I once interviewed astronaut Jerry Linenger (he was the guy on Mir during the fire; ER physician, Navy officer, trained with Navy SEALS, and also a really neat guy), and asked him who he looked up to.
Jerry said John Young, calling him "the astronaut's astronaut". Jerry also said that "John is awesome, and a great mentor, and I think he can still kick my ass."
John Young is on my short list of astronauts that I'd really like to meet.... Along with you, Mark, he'd get my vote of deserving a spot on that stage.
I agree. And Gene Cernan too.
Remember when we had a manned spaced program before the Baby Boomers took it over and gutted and destroyed NASA.
A little late. There are others that deserve it more than Glenn. Many gave their lives. Glenn was paid off in 1998.
Four men doing what they volunteered and paid to do. The real honor should go to the men who gave up their lives or who put their lives in danger for out freedoms. Instead we argue their deseases and cut their veteran benefits and treat them like trash. Walter Reed was a good example to how we treat them. We pay Congress men for the rest of their lives as if they were hero's and all they do are set in powerful places dictating law's to place restrictions on Americans than suck us dry for a life time. These guys just flew to the moon. What makes them hero's? Did they pull a child from a burning building or rescue some unfortunate traffic accident victum? No the moon trips were all paid for by tax payers and really they made way for satalites for big brother and corporate America to watch us and make maga dollars. I am sure these are good men, but theere are so many others who really but it on the line that are deserving of honor.
There's no place for that here
They did risk their lives going up there dont doubt that for a second.
Congrats on turning one of the few feel-good posts here into a whine festival.
And let's discuss the level of stupidity you've shown. How many people died BEFORE we even got to them moon? How many died on the shuttle? You act like a space shot is easier than walking across the street.
"Four men doing what they volunteered and paid to do."--Yep, just like every policeman, soldier, and non-volunteer firemen in existence. Could you have made a dumber remark?
Pinhead.
Faces really change a lot over time...don't tell Buzz that though, he'll sock you one.
they knew they had about a 50/50 chance at pulling this off,because when you get in space things become very difficult.I just wish NASA would go back and set up bases,labs,build football size telescopes,the science and technology learned,would be a boom on earth.Even tourism to the moon,I would love to go,no back pain,I could walk everywhere.
There is so much that those astronauts saw that we the general public don't know about - that they are not revealing. At least not officially. But it will come out soon.
Imagine trying to keep secrets that you know only would benefit humanity - for most of your entire life.