Crossposted from my blog, BraunsBlogThursday, July 16, 2009We Choose the MoonMay 25th, 1961. President John F. Kennedy sets what turns out to be one of the loftiest goals ever set for a nation, or perhaps...even for a planet.From the archives of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & MuseumFirst, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish. We propose to accelerate the development of the appropriate lunar space craft. We propose to develop alternate liquid and solid fuel boosters, much larger than any now being developed, until certain which is superior. We propose additional funds for other engine development and for unmanned explorations--explorations which are particularly important for one purpose which this nation will never overlook: the survival of the man who first makes this daring flight. But in a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the moon--if we make this judgment affirmatively, it will be an entire nation. For all of us must work to put him there.July 16, 1969. With his life cut short by assassination, JFK does not live to see his dream become reality, but the United States and the entire Planet does.

Many of us have lived long enough to vividly remember the events of the epic flight of Apollo 11. If you would like to relive your memories, or for you younger folks experience them for the first time, in real time, visit the website devoted to commemorating this epoch time in human and planetary history.We Choose the Moon.OrgBraun Tacon 1:18 pm est

While we are at it, NASA just few days ago posted some "partially restored" (as they state) videos from the moonwalks:http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/hd/apollo11.html

I remember that. What a huge deal. When I was a kid, it was certain we would go to Mars next. I should be looking forward to retirement there by now. It was a trip ahead of the technology of the time, though. When we got serious about space travel we ended up with the Space Truck going back and forth to some decrepit mult-national orbiting rabbit warren that no one cares about. Shows what happens when you don't have a goal to capture the imagination of a people.Now, of course, no western country could mount a serious manned space exploration effort. It used to be "if we can put a man on the moon, why can't we..." Now it would be "how can we put a woman on Mars when the children don't have health care?" I expect our species' real space efforts will continue by China, who could use the PR. Maybe Russia, if they get their act together.Speaking of moon exploration, Iron Sky has the best tagline ever: "In 1949 the ##### went to the Moon. In 2009, they're coming back."

While we are at it, NASA just few days ago posted some "partially restored" (as they state) videos from the moonwalks:http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/hd/apollo11.html

Ummm... Believe it or not, NASA cannot find the original footage from the moonwalks. What you see was shot by zooming a camera in on a TV screen in Australia then rebroadcast by satellite. So even after being restored, the clarity is not even close to what the lucky few watching that screen in Australia saw.Robert

Ummm... Believe it or not, NASA cannot find the original footage from the moonwalks.

I think we already know what had happened:http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl...bzpw0gD99FPS2G0

A great documentary "In the Shadow of the Moon" is on this Monday 12pm eastern on Discovery.

Just for those craving for some trivia relating to this anniversary ... only in Poland and Bulgaria among the East Block nations live transmission from the Apollo 11 landing was allowed.At least in Poland the permission came from the very top - from the first secretary of PZPR - Mr. Gomulka.

For me, where I was living at the time, it was my brother's birthday on the 21st. It is easy to remember what happened. I watched it in black and white on a small TV in Japan when I was 8 years old. NASA beat the time table by a year and a half. Now if a President would challenge the US to do something similar again.Oh wait, the US has lost the manufacturing and scientific edge it had back then. [/end sarcasm]Mike

Now if a President would challenge the US to do something similar again.

That's the problem - there is nothing "similar" to do. A trip to Mars is far from similar and would cost probably 10 times more than the Apollo program (in equivalent $). Return to the Moon would be similar but who cares - we have been there before. Yes you could set up a permanent base on the Moon but wisdom of that can be easily questioned. In other words landing in the Moon in 1969 was a very natural yet spectacular goal and though difficult and expensive at the time it was within the reach. There is nothing equivalent now.

There is nothing equivalent now.

How about curing cancer?How about ending world hunger?How about fixing the US public schools system?Nothing?Joe

How about curing cancer?

This topic is about the space program - just in case you missed it. :(