Originally Posted by Juilan

These guys we're test pilots. A special breed of crazy that can somehow remain cool at all times.

For instance:
Buzz Aldrin was turning his bulky spacesuit around in the small confines of the lunar module and fucking broke off the GO HOME switch. So when it was time to get home he triggered the ascent engine with a Bic pen. Otherwise they would have been stranded on the moon.

Neil Armstrong was flight testing a lunar lander prototype back on earth pre flight. The thing takes a nasty nosedive on him so he bails seconds before it explodes in a big ball of fire. The time of ejection was 60 meters

What does he say later when asked how does it feel to survive that crash?
"It's always sad when a good machine goes down."

These dudes winged it.