No, it wasn’t the day Sargent Pepper taught the band to play. It was the date of the most significant event in human history.
On this day, July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 lunar module landed on the Moon, carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, while astronaut Michael Collins remained in orbit in the command module.
Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the Moon, followed shortly after by Buzz Aldrin.
Mankind got off this tiny floating rock and made it to our nearest celestial neighbor. You’ve got more computing power in your smartphone than NASA had putting men on the Moon. That we got there at all is simply astounding.
As I was out grocery shopping with the wife I said that I could probably walk up to anyone in the store and offer them $20 if they could tell me the significance of the date. She was aghast that I’d give away $20. I told it was a pretty safe bet.
What do I base that on? Let me tell you a little story.
On this date, five years ago, or the 50th anniversary of this caliwandalous event, I was working part time at a children’s day care facility, driving a bus of all things. We were doing ‘summer events’ and that particular day happened to be visiting Space Center Houston. It was an hour long drive with a busload of rowdy kids, but I knew where we were headed and figured the kids would be suitably impressed when we arrived.
As part of the tour we went to the original Mission Control Center, where NASA scientists directed the mission from back here on Earth. The tour guide asked if anyone knew what had happened on July 20, 1969 that made the day so special. I raised my hand, and only one other person raised their hand.
To my mind, that’s sad.
To my mind, this day should be celebrated with fireworks, parades, floats, and network television events. There should be great hoopla made over it.
Instead I asked the cashier and people behind me in line at the grocery checkout. None of them had any idea of the events on this day in history.
The kids were not suitably impressed as I expected. They had more fun at the interactive exhibits and getting to try ice cream made with liquid nitrogen (not terribly tasty, in my opinion.)
Of course back in 1969 I didn’t realize what an accomplishment this was. I was six at the time. I remember thinking it was neat that men were on the Moon, but I didn’t think it was anything special. Capt. Kirk, Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy went to other planets all the time. It was only right in my mind that we’d be on the Moon. I was just annoyed that they’d interrupted afternoon cartoons for the announcement.
So, my Hordeling, I hope you take some time away from your computer, video games, and television, and go outside this evening and look up at the Moon. Marvel over the fact that we haven’t pushed further out into the Solar System and beyond. And if you really feel industrious, write a letter (not an email) to your Congress Critter and tell them to increase funding to NASA.
I’ll be waiting until the day I can get off this rock and go out there to see it all myself.
If you’d like to support my efforts, why not buy me a chocolate chip cookie through my Ko-Fi page? https://ko-fi.com/jhusum