"One giant leap for mankind."
Those were immortal words of Astronaut Neil Armstrong as he stepped off the Lunar Module footpad onto the surface of the Moon. As in any epic tale of humankind, that moment was a beginning and an end. That first step represented the beginning of the end of the Apollo program and in some ways the end of the Cold War. The United States has won the space race to the Moon and was ready to turn its attention back to planet Earth and home. Only 5 more Apollo missions landed on the Moon, the last of which blasted from the lunar surface on December 19, 1972. However, the moment was also the beginning of a new space age. Many have claimed that the United States no longer have the ability to pursue Big Ideas, that the US has lost its way. I believe they are wrong. Instead, we took a breath to marvel at what we had accomplished and to prepare ourselves for the next wave of human expansion into the cosmos.
Please enjoy the video and reflect on the journey that has taken us to doorsteps of the solar system. As we look to take care of our own with better healthcare, stronger education, and more equal rights, let us look outward as well to the future and to the stars. Happy Apollo 11 Anniversary! Enjoy! :)