Astronaut Neil Armstrong recovering from operation

Legendary astronaut NEIL ARMSTRONG is recovering in hospital after heart surgery.

The first man to walk on the moon is believed to have undergone cardiac bypass surgery just after he turned 82 years old on Sunday (05Aug12).

Buzz Aldrin, the second person to set foot on the moon, has sent support to his former Apollo 11 crewmate in a post on Twitter.com, writing, "Sending my best wishes for a speedy recovery."

NASA administrator Charles F. Bolden, Jr. also writes in a post on Facebook.com, "Neil's pioneering spirit will surely serve him well in this challenging time and the entire NASA family is holding the Armstrong family in our thoughts and prayers."

Armstrong and Aldrin made history when they spent nearly three hours walking on the moon in 1969.