Today is apparently the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. If that isn’t something worthy of mentioning on this blog, then I don’t know what is.
Obviously I was not alive when this event occurred, but I have fond memories of watching live broadcasts of the shuttles heading off into space when I was a kid, and thus have the utmost respect for the fine folks who set foot, for the first time in human history, on the surface of our little moon. If you have forgotten their names, they are: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. Each had a part to play in getting mankind to the Moon and back, and thank goodness it was a success. As Armstrong said:
That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.
The whole thing is pretty amazing, if you ask me. We might look back now and think of it as relatively trivial compared to our ridiculously technology-oriented lives, but Apollo 11 is to space and flight as the printing press is to books. NASA and Apollo 11 have played a crucial role in changing the United States and much of the world for the better. That’s something to acknowledge and be proud of.
So, remember the day we put someone on the moon. It’s important. And to the fine men and women of NASA, I salute you!
If you’re interested in learning more about this historic event, check out NASA’s webpage for the 40th anniversary. There are all sorts of goodies there.
