This is a post written by someone who was too young to have lived through the beginning of the space age. For better or for worse, I did. I can remember driving out with my dad to a country road to watch the sputnick when it came overhead and could be seen. People today have no appreciation of the impact of that event. The sputnick was a visible demonstration of the ability of the Russians, who we had been told were the junior partners in WW2. (In point of fact, it was the Russians who defeated the Germans and the Americans were allowed into captured Germany after the Russians were trimphant.) I can remember the awe of being able to look into the sky and seeing a man made object circling the heavens. It was spectacular. I can remember my dad remarking, as most WW2 vets would have (they were all trained in military tactics after all) that now the Russians controlled the highground. The implications of that fact were enormous. The only way to “one up” the Russians and to restore some sort of prestige was to “gain the higher ground” and that is what Kennedy decided to do. The moon was it. And that was all that it was, an attempt to counter the Russians and their visible and political (and technological) coup. It was not a glorious call to any endeavor. It was simply a response to a Russian endeavor, that put the US in an inferior public relations and political perspective. Landing men on the moon was a technological achievement of immense proportions. But it lacked the political impact of the launch of sputnick, which Americans now have not been allowed to appreciate in its initial impact because of the passage of time and the intervening political narratives. Kennedy was not brave or fore thinking. He was simply devising a strategy to rescue the reputation of the US as somehow predominant over the Russians, and he had to do it on the back of Nazi scientists that had been forcebley imported into the US.
You are correct: I am too young to remember first hand, the beginning of the space age, and at the moment, I'm glad about that. I do know that Kennedy and his administration wanted to counter the Russian advances with something bigger and better, for mostly political reasons. Nevertheless, a president's articulation of a specific goal that involved such a grand endeavor as sending a person to the moon and returning him safely with the commitment of national resources inspired millions of Americans and many millions world-wide, not just at the time, but over 60 year later. Our country needs to again work toward common goals for the common good, and ask for some sacrifice from each of us to achieve those goals.
I remember that too. Lying in the grass and watching it pass over.
Kennedy was right. Go to the moon and back.
Captain Kirk of Star Trek was asked by his navigator, after Kirk said, take us out of here Sui Lou. He replied which way captain. Kirk replied looking out at the stars into the unknown through the window giving the view of space. Pointing into the unknown. That way, Mr. Sui Lou.
Look at how far we have came. Let US not give that all up to the sexual predator and defender of pedophiles. Yet, hater of others because of their skin color and not seeing the content of their character. MLK
Let’s get into good trouble and make John Lewis and our other heroes proud.
Well. Russia hasn’t been able to do anything like the space shuttle missions.
The space station’s would be interesting to see. Is good that other countries are working together for scientific research purposes to help us understand more.
You probably remember the launch with the diversity of people the first of its kind. Which exploded during the flight. That was terrible to watch.
This is a post written by someone who was too young to have lived through the beginning of the space age. For better or for worse, I did. I can remember driving out with my dad to a country road to watch the sputnick when it came overhead and could be seen. People today have no appreciation of the impact of that event. The sputnick was a visible demonstration of the ability of the Russians, who we had been told were the junior partners in WW2. (In point of fact, it was the Russians who defeated the Germans and the Americans were allowed into captured Germany after the Russians were trimphant.) I can remember the awe of being able to look into the sky and seeing a man made object circling the heavens. It was spectacular. I can remember my dad remarking, as most WW2 vets would have (they were all trained in military tactics after all) that now the Russians controlled the highground. The implications of that fact were enormous. The only way to “one up” the Russians and to restore some sort of prestige was to “gain the higher ground” and that is what Kennedy decided to do. The moon was it. And that was all that it was, an attempt to counter the Russians and their visible and political (and technological) coup. It was not a glorious call to any endeavor. It was simply a response to a Russian endeavor, that put the US in an inferior public relations and political perspective. Landing men on the moon was a technological achievement of immense proportions. But it lacked the political impact of the launch of sputnick, which Americans now have not been allowed to appreciate in its initial impact because of the passage of time and the intervening political narratives. Kennedy was not brave or fore thinking. He was simply devising a strategy to rescue the reputation of the US as somehow predominant over the Russians, and he had to do it on the back of Nazi scientists that had been forcebley imported into the US.
You are correct: I am too young to remember first hand, the beginning of the space age, and at the moment, I'm glad about that. I do know that Kennedy and his administration wanted to counter the Russian advances with something bigger and better, for mostly political reasons. Nevertheless, a president's articulation of a specific goal that involved such a grand endeavor as sending a person to the moon and returning him safely with the commitment of national resources inspired millions of Americans and many millions world-wide, not just at the time, but over 60 year later. Our country needs to again work toward common goals for the common good, and ask for some sacrifice from each of us to achieve those goals.
I remember that too. Lying in the grass and watching it pass over.
Kennedy was right. Go to the moon and back.
Captain Kirk of Star Trek was asked by his navigator, after Kirk said, take us out of here Sui Lou. He replied which way captain. Kirk replied looking out at the stars into the unknown through the window giving the view of space. Pointing into the unknown. That way, Mr. Sui Lou.
Look at how far we have came. Let US not give that all up to the sexual predator and defender of pedophiles. Yet, hater of others because of their skin color and not seeing the content of their character. MLK
Let’s get into good trouble and make John Lewis and our other heroes proud.
It was a magnificent call to action for our entire country—to reach for the moon and stars.
Well. Russia hasn’t been able to do anything like the space shuttle missions.
The space station’s would be interesting to see. Is good that other countries are working together for scientific research purposes to help us understand more.
You probably remember the launch with the diversity of people the first of its kind. Which exploded during the flight. That was terrible to watch.
We can do great things and we will again do great things.
I believe that, too. But we need a leader with strength and vision...and intellect to set a lofty goal and rally us toward it
That leader is out there, but can’t do it alone.