Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Jordan
Personally, I believe they went to the Moon. But part of me wishes they hadn't!
As it was mainly a political PR stunt to show up the Russians (as evidenced by the fact that we never did anything up there afterward)... and as today, if the Russians, the Chinese, the Japanese or the Duchy of Grand Fenwick actually went up there and stomped all over our flag, we couldn't do a thing about it... I've grown to feel that it was a colossal waste of time.
On the other hand...
One of the greatest things about the Apollo program is how well it demonstrated the ability of Americans to pull together, and to develop new technologies, to get something BIG done, an effort not seen since WWII. Something we could use today in our need for alternative energy and transportation systems. People talk about our needing a "Manhattam Project" for our energy situation, whereas I prefer to think we need an "Apollo Program" (but that won't be abandoned when we reach some trivial milestone).
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I'm with you, Steve. A colossal waste and a fabulous feat. I would really hate and simultaneously really hope we do something equally wasteful and fantastic again.
I was only 12 in 1969 but it really was the only positive thing I can remember from that time.