Reflections on a Moon Walk

Let me start out by saying that I don't remember where I was the evening Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin did their famous moon walk. It was a mid July evening in 1969. I was 11 and living in Klamath Falls, Oregon. It's quite possible that I was sitting in front of the TV (still black and white as I remember) watching the historic moment. It's equally possible that I was out playing Kick the Can or some other game. If I'm honest, I'll say that unless my mother sat me down in front of the TV, I was probably out playing with friends.

I do remember the space program -- remembering how every time we launched a rocket during the school year they would wheel in a TV and we would watch the rocket launch -- or any of the other activities -- including moon walks. The excitement ended by the early 1970s -- when I was still in Jr. High. Unless a space craft explodes we don't pay much attention to the space program anymore. Back then, though, it was important. It was important because our national identity and pride was at stake. Getting to the moon had less scientific motivation and more national pride. We needed to beat the Soviet's to the moon. We got there, they never went. With Apollo 17 we brought the program to a close. I expect that there were scientific benefits, but more benefits apparently could be gained closer to home -- like the Hubble Telescope.

It is odd to think, however, that it's been 40 years since that historic moment. Nearly half a century. Life was very different back then. Richard Nixon was early in his first term (where Obama is today). We were deeply enmeshed in Vietnam. The nation was divided. Woodstock was happening. The Beatles were still together, even if barely. Crosby, Stills and Nash had formed. The music was good and it was changing. The Mets would win the World Series that Fall -- considered a miracle then.

And a man walked on the moon -- "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Or was it?