Monday was a very important date in history. The 40th anniversary of when man first landed on and walked on the moon.
Iremember watching the whole thing on TV…black and white…getting to stayup late because it was such an amazing thing. For those who forgot, theactual moonwalk happened around midnight eastern time and didn’t enduntil the wee hours of July 21.
I have seen a lot of media andcitizen discussion about plans to return to the moon, and almostuniversally no one thinks it’s a good idea. The money, they say, wouldbe better spent on economic recovery and reducing debt.
Can’t argue that. In fact, I won’t. Because right now is not a good time to spend more money we don’t have.
Still,stop and think about all of the things the U.S. space program hasbrought to our everyday lives. The list is incredible, all things wetake for granted.
Things like: Advanced keyboards, customerservice software, database management systems, laser surveying,improved aircraft controls, CDs and DVDs, microcomputers, theDustbuster, shock-absorbing helmets, home security systems, smokedetectors, flat panel televisions, high-density batteries, trashcompactors, food packaging and freeze-dried technology, coolsportswear, sports bras, hair styling appliances, fogless ski goggles,self-adjusting sunglasses, composite golf clubs, hang gliders, artpreservation, quartz crystal timing equipment, weather forecastingaids, telemetry systems, personal GPS devices, fire resistant material,environmental analysis, noise abatement, pollution measuring andcontrol devices, radioactive leak detector, earthquake predictionsystem, sewage treatment, energy saving air conditioning and airpurification systems, ultrasound scanners, automatic insulin pump,portable x-ray device, invisible braces, dental arch wire, palatesurgery technology, clean room apparel, implantable heart aid, MRI,bone analyzer, cataract surgery tools, self-locking fasteners, machinetooling software, wireless communications, engine coatings, jaws oflife, self-righting life rafts, improved aircraft design, improvedautomotive brakes and…
Studless winter tires.
And we did all of this with space vehicles and ground crews armed with computers that had less computing power than an iPhone.
If you have comments to share, send to me at [email protected].
– Jim Smith
