Hello, NASA
In the pivotal year of 1962, NASA unveiled the tantalizing prospect of astronaut opportunities. Neil Armstrong, despite submitting his application well past the official cutoff, dared to dream and took the bold step of applying. Fate, it seems, had an ally in his corner.
A dear friend named Dick Day spotted Armstrong’s application and, with a dose of clandestine determination, ensured it found its rightful place in the coveted in-tray. Fast-forward to 1965, and Armstrong’s resilience paid off as NASA bestowed upon him the honor of being one of the backup astronauts chosen for the historic Gemini 5 mission. This mission was no mere flight; it was a carefully orchestrated rehearsal for the grand stage of a future Moon landing.