(CNN) — Neil Armstrong may be best known for his historic walk on the moon, but Monday he was also honored for his missions closer to Earth.
The Navy announced a new class of research vessels will be named in Armstrong’s honor. The vessels are expected to be 238-feet long.
They’re expected to carry on-board laboratories and come decked out with equipment that can map the deepest parts of the oceans.
They are being built by Dakota Creek Industries in Washington state.
Neil Armstrong flew nearly 80 combat missions during the Korean War as a naval aviator.
He died last month at the age of 82. The Secretary of the Navy said the the honor for Armstrong also serves as a reminder to never stop discovering.
