The NASA photo of the day shows Neil Armstrong with an X-15 rocket-powered airplane he test-piloted in the early 1960’s, when I was a space-loving little boy.

NASA announced today that the Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, CA, has renamed the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center.

I recently signed up to receive an “Image of the Day” from NASA.  How fitting that a rare second Full Moon of the month, known as a “Blue Moon,” could be seen over Cincinnati on Friday, Aug. 31, 2012.

The family of Apollo 11 Astronaut Neil Armstrong held a memorial service celebrating his life earlier in the day in Cincinnati. Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, died Saturday, Aug. 25. He was 82.

“I think we’re going to the moon because it’s in the nature of the human being to face challenges. It’s by the nature of his deep inner soul… we’re required to do these things just as salmon swim upstream.” (Neil Armstrong, 1930-2012)

When I was a little boy, my first career choice was Astronaut all the way.  The engineering thing came later.  In fact, my earliest recollection of being reprimanded at school was for stealing extra paper so I could draw rockets and space ships.  So, in every sense of the word, Neil Armstrong and his compatriots were my heroes.  Paradise gained a great man this week.  We who are left behind are much better people for what Neil Armstrong and the space heroes contributed to us all.

Plus … You’ve gotta admit.  That is one cool airplane!