Neil Armstrong and Purdue

Provided Neil Armstrong, shown here on July 20, 1969, the day he first walked on the moon, was commander of Apollo 11. Neil Armstrong, shown here on July 20, 1969, the day he first walked on the moon, was commander of Apollo 11.

By John Terhune/Journal & Courier--A pennant commemorating the Apollo 11 moon landing mission of astronaut Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin Aldrin Jr. Tuesday, July 14, 2009, at the Purdue Archives inside the Humanities Library on the campus of Purdue University. The pennant of one of several personal items belonging to Armstrong that were recently donated to the university.

By John Terhune/Journal & Courier--The Neil Armstrong sculpture outside Armstrong Hall of Engineering Thursday, June 3, 2010, on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette.

Michael Heinz/Journal and Courier-- A crowded hall during a reception for Astronaut Neil Armstrong Friday, October 26, 2007 at Purdue University in West Lafayette.

By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- Neil Armstrong talks with some of the high school athletes, who are in the running to win the Northwest Indiana Scholar Athlete of the Year Award, prior to the NFF Honors Dinner inside the Purdue Memorial Union, in West Lafayette, on Thursday, June 16, 2011.

By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- Neil Armstrong smiles prior to the NFF Honors Dinner inside the Purdue Memorial Union, in West Lafayette, on Thursday, June 16, 2011.

By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- Brian Blumenshine, of Peoria, Il, has his photo taken with Neil Armstrong, Eugene Cernan, and Jerry Ross prior to the NFF Honors Dinner inside the Purdue Memorial Union, in West Lafayette, on Thursday, June 16, 2011.

By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- The first and last men on the moon Neil Armstrong and Eugene Cernan talk prior to the NFF Honors Dinner inside the Purdue Memorial Union, in West Lafayette, on Thursday, June 16, 2011.

By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- Kyle Adams, Leroy Keyes, Drew Brees, Jerry Ross, Neil Armstrong and Eugene Cernan pose for a group photo prior to the NFF Honors Dinner inside the Purdue Memorial Union, in West Lafayette, on Thursday, June 16, 2011.

By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- Neil Armstrong acknowledges the crowd while receiving the Gold Medallion Award during the NFF Honors Dinner inside the Purdue Memorial Union, in West Lafayette, on Thursday, June 16, 2011.

By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- An image of Neil Armstrong on the moon is shown on a screen after he received the Gold Medallion Award during the NFF Honors Dinner inside the Purdue Memorial Union, in West Lafayette, on Thursday, June 16, 2011.

By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- Neil Armstrong acknowledges the crowd while receiving the Gold Medallion Award during the NFF Honors Dinner inside the Purdue Memorial Union, in West Lafayette, on Thursday, June 16, 2011.

In September 1952, Neil Armstrong (kneeling, third from left) was a member of the pledge class for the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Purdue. Fellow pledge class member Dick Leill said: "He was older than most of us ? and smarter, too. So we made him president of our pledge class." (Courtesy Dick Leill)

- -FILE PHOTO Oct. 28, 1985--FOR SUNDY-- Neil Armstrong at Purdue Homecoming

- -FILE PHOTO Oct. 28, 1985--FOR SUNDY-- Neil Armstrong

- -Purdue astronaut Neil Armstrong in an undated visit to Purdue

- -Purdue astronaut Neil Armstrong

2000 Neil Armstrong on moon

- -Text: Purdue graduates Neil Armstrong and Eugene Cernan, the first and last person to walk on the moon, pose during their time working with NASA. They are among the 22 Purdue alumni chosen for the space program, helping the university earn the nickname "the cradle of astronauts." (Purdue University file photo))

This 1960 image provided by NASA shows Neil Armstrong standing by an X-15 rocketplane after a test flight. This photo is part of the Armstrong Papers collection, held at Purdue University.

Neil Armstrong (right) works on a project in his pajamas with an unidentified classmate during his undergraduate days at Purdue University. This image is from the Armstrong Papers, now available for research at Purdue.

Tracy Grimm, background right, Barron Hilton Archivist for Flight and Space Exploration, pushes a cart past box upon box of Neil Armstrong's papers, which have recently been released for public research, Tuesday, December 2, 2014, in the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections inside Stewart Center on the campus of Purdue University.

A letter written to Neil Armstrong that is part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Tuesday, December 2, 2014, inside Stewart Center on the campus of Purdue University. The letter, dated January 18, 1971 from Doug Bendera of Alberta, Canada, is among some 70,000 pieces of correspondence in the Armstrong collection.

A NASA portrait of Neil Armstrong as an X-15 experimental aircraft test pilot, circa 1960, that is part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Tuesday, December 2, 2014, inside Stewart Center on the campus of Purdue University.

A few items of Neil Armstrong's days as a Boy Scout are displayed in Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Tuesday, December 2, 2014, inside Stewart Center on the campus of Purdue University.

Box upon box of Neil Armstrong's papers, which have recently been released for public research, Tuesday, December 2, 2014, in the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections inside Stewart Center on the campus of Purdue University.

A photograph of Neil Armstrong from his days as a member of the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band is displayed in the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Tuesday, December 2, 2014, inside Stewart Center on the campus of Purdue University.

A note left on the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering Sunday, August 26, 2012, on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette. Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon and who passed away Saturday, is a graduate of the university.

People take photos of the Neil Armstrong statue covered with flower, signs and candles outside of the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering Sunday, August 26, 2012, on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette. Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon and who passed away Saturday, is a graduate of the university.

Statue of Neil Armstrong, first man to walk on the moon, Monday, February 13, 2017, outside Armstrong Hall on the campus of Purdue University.

A crew from Tri-Esco carefully begin to lift a 1/2 scale model of the X-20 Dyna-Soar space plane into place Friday, January 10, 2014 inside Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering on the campus of Purdue University. The X-20 was a gift to Purdue University by the Boeing Company. The X-20 was a one-man, piloted, delta-winged space glider that was designed to be launched into orbit by a Titan III rocket booster. Two Purdue graduates, Neil Armstrong and Henry C. Gordon, were chosen as X-20 pilots. The X-20 never flew, but it contributed to the development of the space shuttle.

Statue of Neil Armstrong, first man to walk on the moon, stands outside Armstrong Hall on the campus of Purdue University. John Terhune/Journal & Courier Statue of Neil Armstrong, first man to walk on the moon, Monday, February 13, 2017, outside Armstrong Hall on the campus of Purdue University.

The Journal & Courier on July 21, 1969 when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. Photo Provided The Journal & Courier on July 21, 1969 when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon.

A Purdue Centennial flag on the Apollo 11 mission to the moon is among more than 2,000 items from the Armstrong family collection by Heritage Auctions, starting in October. Heritage Auctions A Purdue Centennial flag that went with Neil Armstrong on the Apollo 11 mission to the moon is among more than 2,000 items from the Armstrong family collection by Heritage Auctions, starting in October.

Purdue President Fred Hovde holds a framed Purdue Centennial flag Neil Armstrong, left, took with him on the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Armstrong gave the flag to Purdue on Jan. 9, 1970, the day the university gave the first man on the moon an honorary doctorate in engineering. Courtesy of Purdue University Archives Purdue President Fred Hovde, right, holds a framed Purdue Centennial flag Neil Armstrong, left, took with him on the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Armstrong gave the flag to Purdue on Jan. 9, 1970, the day the university gave the first man on the moon an honorary doctorate in engineering.

Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. beside the U.S. flag during the Apollo 11 mission. File photo/AP FILE - In this July 20, 1969 file photo provided by NASA shows astronaut Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. posing for a photograph beside the U.S. flag deployed on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. Aldrin and fellow astronaut Neil Armstrong were the first men to walk on the lunar surface. The trio was launched to the moon by a Saturn V launch vehicle at 9:32 a.m. EDT, July 16, 1969. They departed the moon July 21, 1969. (AP Photo/NASA, Neil Armstrong, File)

This July 20, 1969, file photo provided by NASA shows Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong on the lunar surface. This weekend marks the 45th anniverary of the landing. File photo/AP FILE - This July 20, 1969 file photo provided by NASA shows Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong on the lunar surface. Apollo 11 astronauts trained on Earth to take individual photographs in succession in order to create a series of frames that could be assembled into panoramic images. This frame from Aldrin's panorama of the Apollo 11 landing site is the only good picture of mission commander Neil Armstrong on the lunar surface. Armstrong and fellow astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin spent nearly three hours walking on the moon, collecting samples, conducting experiments and taking photographs. In all, 12 Americans walked on the moon from 1969 to 1972. (AP Photo/NASA, Buzz Aldrin, File)

This spacesuit was worn by Armstrong, The Smithsonian Institution launched its first Kickstarter campaign Monday.

photos by Eric Long/National Air and Space Museum/ Smithsonian Institution The spacesuits Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin wore in July 1969 are displayed at the National Mall in Washington.

Former astronaut Neil Armstrong testifies before a Senate committee in May. Armstrong died Saturday at 82. By Cliff Owen/AP FILE - In this May 12 ,2012 file photo, former astronaut Neil Armstrong testifies before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing on NASA's proposed budget and the future of the manned space flight program on Capitol Hill in Washington. The family of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, says he has died at age 82. A statement from the family says he died following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. It doesn't say where he died. Armstrong commanded the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon July 20, 1969. He radioed back to Earth the historic news of "one giant leap for mankind." Armstrong and fellow astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin spent nearly three hours walking on the moon, collecting samples, conducting experiments and taking photographs. In all, 12 Americans walked on the moon from 1969 to 1972. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Neil Armstrong poses with Aeronautics and Astronautics graduate students from Purdue during a reception in his honor. File photo/J&C Michael Heinz/Journal and Courier-- Astronaut Neil Armstrong poses with Aeronautics and Astronautics graduate students from Purdue University during a reception in his honor Friday, October 26, 2007 at the university in West Lafayette.

The deployment of scientific experiments by astronaut Edwin ?Buzz? Aldrin Jr. is photographed by astronaut Neil Armstrong. Man?s first landing on the moon occurred July 20, 1969, as Lunar Module ?Eagle? touched down on the Sea of Tranquility on the east side of the moon. File photo/Getty Images 376713 20: (FILE PHOTO) The deployment of scientific experiments by Astronaut Edwin Aldrin Jr. is photographed by Astronaut Neil Armstrong. Man's first landing on the Moon occurred July 20, 1969 as Lunar Module "Eagle" touched down gently on the Sea of Tranquility on the east side of the Moon. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers)

A portrait of Neil Armstrong in 1959, 10 years prior to the Apollo 11 mission in which he became the first man to set foot on the moon. File photo/Getty Images 376713 14: (FILE PHOTO) Portrait of Neil Armstrong in 1959, ten years prior to the Apollo 11 mission in which he became the first human to set foot on the moon. The 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission is celebrated July 20, 1999. (Photo by NASA/Newsmakers)

Neil Armstrong is shown in March 1966 when he piloted the Gemini VIII mission. Associated Press file photo FILE - In this March 6, 1966 file photo Astronaut Neil Armstrong, pilot for the Gemini VIII mission is shown. The family of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, says he has died at age 82. A statement from the family says he died following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. It doesn't say where he died. Armstrong commanded the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon July 20, 1969. He radioed back to Earth the historic news of "one giant leap for mankind." Armstrong and fellow astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin spent nearly three hours walking on the moon, collecting samples, conducting experiments and taking photographs. In all, 12 Americans walked on the moon from 1969 to 1972. (AP Photo/FILE)

Neil Armstrong prepares to set foot on the lunar surface. Neil Armstrong prepares to set foot on lunar surface.

Armstrong Papers/Purdue Special Collections Neil Armstrong's fascination with flight dated to his school days before he arrived at Purdue.

Armstrong Papers/Purdue Special Collections Neil Armstrong, right, works on a model aircraft project during his college days at Purdue University.

Armstrong Papers/Purdue Special Collections Neil Armstrong, left, and two classmates at Purdue University peek out from a cockpit. Armstrong started at Purdue in 1947 and returned to campus in 1952 after a stint in the Navy.

File photo/Journal & Courier Astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, speaks during a 2007 dinner in his honor at Purdue University in West Lafayette. The Neil Armstrong Hall for Engineering was named for him. Michael Heinz/Journal and Courier-- Astronaut Neil Armstrong speaks during a dinner in his honor Friday, October 26, 2007 at Purdue University in West Lafayette. The neil Armstrong Hall for Engineering will be named in his honor on Saturday.

Purdue football team honored astronaut Neil Armstrong who just passed away with this sticker on their helmet during their game against Notre Dame Saturday, September 8, 2012, at Notre Dame stadium in South Bend.

A passerby looks at all of the flower, signs and candles covering the Neil Armstrong statue outside of the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering Sunday, August 26, 2012, on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette. Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon and who passed away Saturday, is a graduate of the university.

Purdue Student Government President Joe Rust speaks during a memorial service for Neil Armstrong in front of the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering at Purdue, in West Lafayette, on Monday, August 27, 2012.

Students and members of the Purdue community gather to show support during a memorial service for Neil Armstrong in front of the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering at Purdue, in West Lafayette, on Monday, August 27, 2012.

Purdue astronaut Greg Harbaugh speaks of his memories of Neil Armstrong during a memorial service in front of the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering at Purdue, in West Lafayette, on Monday, August 27, 2012.

Boot prints from from Neil Armstrong's famous walk on the moon are embedded into the ground as members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity pay tribute to him during a memorial service in front of the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering at Purdue, in West Lafayette, on Monday, August 27, 2012. Armstrong was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity while at Purdue.