Apollo 11

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo11.html#.U5hKAnKwJcQ

The featured image is of Neil Armstrong descending down the ladder, seconds before reaching the moons surface on July 20th, 1969.

Apollo 11 was the first manned space mission to the moon. The Saturn V was piloted by Micheal Collins, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were on the surface collecting lunar material. The missions duration was exactly 8 days, 3 hours, 18 minutes, 35 seconds. Apollo 11 was the final event that finally concluded the space race chapter in our history.

This accomplishment can be viewed as a homage to JFK. Before JFK was assassinated he announced that America would be the first nation to ever land on the moon. The moon landing was an evocative moment that brought back the memory of his announcement which instigated the space race.

With the advanced technology humanity currently possesses, its frustrating that we’ve invested so little time into venturing back to the moon. Right now the fixation is centered on Mars travel, exoplanets, hybrid stars, extra terrestrial beings, etc. Science is trying to expand the human scope of the universe while trying to demystify its complexity. Although I appreciate the efforts,  its important that we look at this pragmatically. Rather than JUST expanding the human scope of the universe, why not expand civilization or at least construct some lunar base. With its sophisticated technology, modern science could perhaps figure out a way to make life on moon possible. Lets call this a migration, not saying all of mankind would inhabit the moon, but a volunteering portion would colonize the moon. Think of the moon as a new continent. Then its possible to launch from the moon to mars and maybe settle there. So in the distant future, theoretically man would be living on 3 celestial bodies. Space is a frontier like earth was back when most of it was uncharted and unknown (except its much larger). The space travel projects are currently stagnant since there hasn’t been any recent ground-breaking revelations that would further the understanding. I hope science continues surveying and observing the universe while also investing time into making lunar life possible (via pioneering/new methods)… That would be the most prudent thing science could do for mankind at this moment.

“While knowledge stops at every precipice, faith leaps across it. While knowledge further refines knowledge, faith expands it”

– Montalk