“I thought the attractions of being an astronaut were actually, not so much the Moon, but flying in a completely new medium.”
- August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012
- American
- Astronaut, Aerospace Engineer, First Person to Walk on the Moon
table of contents
Quote
“I thought the attractions of being an astronaut were actually, not so much the Moon, but flying in a completely new medium.”
Explanation
In this quote, Neil Armstrong offers a revealing look into what personally motivated him to become an astronaut. Contrary to the public fascination with the Moon as the ultimate goal, Armstrong found his true excitement in the experience of flight itself — particularly in space, a “completely new medium.” His emphasis was not on reaching a destination, but on mastering the challenge of navigating a new and unfamiliar environment, which speaks to his identity as an aviator and engineer first.
This perspective reflects Armstrong’s technical mindset and deep passion for flight. For him, spaceflight was a natural extension of his lifelong pursuit of aeronautics — from gliders to high-speed jets to spacecraft. His words reveal that the spirit of exploration lies not just in where you go, but in how you get there, and in the thrill of adapting to the unknown. The Moon was historic, but the real wonder for Armstrong was in the challenge of flying where no one had flown before.
In today’s context, this quote is a reminder that innovation and discovery are often driven by curiosity about new tools, environments, or methods, not just by goals or outcomes. Whether it’s in technology, science, or art, Armstrong’s mindset encourages us to value the process of exploration itself. It is the joy of working at the frontier — of flying in a “new medium” — that propels humanity forward.
Would you like to share your impressions or related stories about this quote in the comments section?
