Growing up in Florida, it is no surprise that the space program and the first landing on the moon is a major draw to children and adults alike.
When NASA launched a rocket form Cape Canaveral (the Kennedy Space Center), the rocket charging through the with an escape velocity of over 17,000 miles per hour, the sight could be seen over half of the state. Depending on where they were, some people could even see the first stage when it fell away into the ocean.
In the early days of space travel, watching a rocket fly through the air was a major event. People dropped whatever they were doing and ran outside to watch the rocket launch. If going outside was not possible, every television channel (pre-cable) carried the event with plenty of commentary on what was taking place. The views were incredible to watch!
Then flying around the earth was no longer good enough, NASA had its eyes on the satellite that orbited the earth a quarter of a million miles away – Luna – the moon!
And on a summer day in late July, a tiny module broke away from the main rocket to land on the moon!
The views sent back to NASA and broadcast all over the world were breathtaking!
Neil Armstrong had us all glued to our televisions waiting with bated breath in anticipation of what would come next.
The rocks the astronauts brought back in each successive trip were highly sought after artifacts…on the level with a record setting home run. Someone paid millions to own the home run ball hit by Shohei Otani to set the 50/50 record. Moon rocks were just as eagerly sought.
As the Shuttle program was launched, interest began to wane and television stations no longer carried the launches; but for some they never lost the lust for the mysteries of space. “Star Trek” was…and is…more than just a television show; it was a glimpse into what could be.
It is sad to see the downfall of NASA and the space program. Whether or not it is the “final frontier”, space is a part of us all – “we are star stuff” – and worth the effort to discover what is beyond…