Neil Armstrong RIP
Posted by: Reginald Halliday on 25 August 2012
Bon Voyage Big Man
I watched the Armstrong stepping down off the Lunar module ladder and utter those immortal words " One small step for man - one giant leap for mankind". That event and spoken phrase has stuck with me more than any other happening since.
Like Hook I agree the positive impact on technology evolution that sprung from this scientific effort is vast in scope. I was studying Chemistry at the time and found that event highly motivating I subsequently worked as an engineer in semiconductors for a significant portion of my life and witnessed the explosion of human energy and technology drive that came from the innovation and will to achieve demonstrated by the Lunar landing project.
RIP Neil
I'm with Hook and Geoff on this ... the Moon Landing was a great thing to have seen (even if my Grandmother insisted it was all filmed in Hollywood) - I wish we were still embarking on such monuments events .... Neil Armstrong always came across a thoroughly nice guy too - which doubles my admiration for him. What a great role model.
Landing on the moon has got to be one of the most exciting events ever ...
I don't think we should be negative about great achievements
I would like to write some words in Italian in this post:buon viaggio Signor Armstrong!
I would like to write some words in Italian in this post:buon viaggio Signor Armstrong!
"Dice-Lasciatemi così.
Ho fatto tutto il giro e ho capito.
Il mondo si legge all'incontrario.
Tutto e' chiaro."
KR
Tony
I would like to write some words in Italian in this post:buon viaggio Signor Armstrong!
"Dice-Lasciatemi così.
Ho fatto tutto il giro e ho capito.
Il mondo si legge all'incontrario.
Tutto e' chiaro."
KR
Tony
+1 thanks Tony.
"In the summer of 1958, the Congress wrote and the President signed the National Space Act establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and I remember the time clearly, 50 years ago this week. I was high above the California desert piloting a B-29 carrier aircraft and launching the X-1E, the latest and most advanced of the fabled X-1 research airplane series.
NASA became an operating agency on October 1st, 1958. I found myself that Wednesday morning going to work at my same job, my same office, doing the same work that I'd been doing the previous day. It was a relatively easy transition. We were already riding on rockets and research aircraft. We already knew how to count backwards: "8, 7, 6, 5..."
We had merely to paint over the "C" in NACA and replace it with an "S" on our airplanes, our trucks and vans, as the other principal components of the new agency, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the California Institute of Technology, and the Army's Redstone Arsenal in Hunstville, Alabama, assumed they were deciding what the minimum amount of painting would be required at their installations and what new responsibilities they would face.
In any case, I suspect there are some number of people here tonight who remember the birth of NASA and were a part of those early days. So I would like to ask those here tonight who were founding members of NASA, those from NACA, those from JPL, those from Redstone, and those who came from various other places to join NASA in the year 1958 - I'd like those of you who are seated in that category to stand, and those of you who are standing to raise your hands and let me hear from you. Congratulations! You've being recognized as old fogies - old fogies that we are and of which we are exceedingly proud.
And here tonight, a half century later, we look back on what has been accomplished. Our knowledge of the universe around us has increased a thousand fold and more. We learned that Homo sapiens was not forever imprisoned by the gravitational field of Earth. Performance, efficiency, reliability and safety of aircraft have improved remarkably. We've sent probes throughout the solar system and beyond. We've seen deeply into our universe and looked backward nearly to the beginning of time.
We were a competitor in perhaps the greatest peacetime competition of all time: the space race - USA versus USSR. Like a war, it was expensive. Like a war, each side wanted intelligence on what the other side was doing. And I'll not assert that the space race was a diversion which prevented a war. Nevertheless, it was a diversion. It was intense. It did allow both sides to take the high road with the objectives of science and learning and exploration.
Eventually, it provided a mechanism for engendering cooperation between adversaries and then since, among others. It was an exceptional national investment for each side. I submit that one of the most important roles of government is to inspire and motivate its citizens, and particularly its young citizens - to love, to learn, to strive to participate in and contribute to societal progress. By that measure, NASA will without doubt rank in the top tier of government enterprises."
The goal is far more than just going faster and higher and further. Our goal - indeed our responsibility - is to develop new options for future generations: options in expanding human knowledge, exploration, human settlements and resource development, outside in the universe around us.
Our highest and most important hope is that the human race will improve its intelligence, its character, and its wisdom, so that we'll be able to properly evaluate and choose among those options, and the many others we will encounter in the years ahead. And I look forward to watching the progress and those exciting development and hearing the status report when we gather again for NASA's 100th anniversary."
Neil Armstrong, 2008
I'm totally gutted. I remember sitting up all night aged 15 watching the landing and moonwalk. Such exciting optimistic times, when it looked like we could do anything we set our minds to.
He was a real hero (along with Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins) and a genuinely modest man. Sad day.
Jamie, that just sums up the man. Thanks for posting it.
George, what a sad, dull life you lead.
Since the ancients we have had political vanity projects that led nowhere. The Moon Landings are just one example, and the politicians garner the popularity, the little man pays the tax, and people elevated to herioc status by the system take the human risk.
Really, one has to stop being so taken in by the media, which is run by the same people that finance the election of governements.
ATB from George
George - Do you honestly think your lifestyle is not better for the technological advances gained during the race to the moon? Your comment seems so bitterly myopic. I think most would consider it mans' greatest achievement. The Cold War may have been the motivation, but that seems distant now. From today's perspective, Neil Armstrong could have been anybody, from any nation; he represented all mankind when he stepped onto the moon.
I think that Armstrong and his cohorts were the brave and manipulated pawns in the bigger game that was about political muscularity - even involving Nazi scientific knowledge gained at horrible expense - in a competition that was called the Cold War. No disrespect to those brave men, but I see the whole Moon landing thing as a less than zero net gain effort unless it could be argued that it helped stave off WW III.
ATB from George
George,
Love you buddy.... and i hear you and all but... What the hell have we done for the world, you and I. Have we fallen on the right side of the "net gain" threshold? I would venture that everyone involved went far beyond anything we have to offer.
-Patrick
Colonizing another solar system is our only option. If we don't achieve this goal, then everything we do, our entire history, will be meaningless. Is there a more noble goal than trying to avert our own extinction?
Hook
+1
But in the meantime, let's treat our one and only home kindly, so we have time to plan and implement our departure.
I think that Armstrong and his cohorts were the brave and manipulated pawns in the bigger game that was about political muscularity ...
ATB from George
And even if so, so what? It was still a herculean task. The man himself was brave, but think of the machinery on the ground that made it all possible.
A giant leap for mankind indeed.
The Naim streamers have more technology in them today than the rocket that put the man on the moon. With so little, so much was achieved. Something to make us proud.
He was the 'Right Stuff'. There were/are precious few of his sort in this world and now there's one less.
Speaking personally, I feel the early 1970's were, in some ways, the high watermark of post war society. The space-race coincided with my early childhood and seemed to focus a world's confidence - 'yes we can'. Memories of war, privation and fear were still raw but were eased for some around a family friend's B&W telly!
Slum clearances, healthcare, schooling - a sense that anyone could progress, no matter what your 'status'. Of course I'm wearing my rose-tinted, gold-plated visor and of course there were countless other lives across the globe being lived in misery. However, thinking of Mr. Armstrong and Saturn Five boosters gives me such sustenance - and, reading the comments posted, I think for a lot of others too.
My internal wiring, although I am a dour, miserable sod on the outside, was set to 'optimist' by those years. Those memories will always be with me in quiet moments. I only hope that the 'kids these days' have something so fulsome to inspire them. (although I accept they probably do and it's just my mawkish sentimentalism that thinks they don't)
"Since the ancients we have had political vanity projects that led nowhere. The Moon Landings are just one example, and the politicians garner the popularity, the little man pays the tax, and people elevated to herioc status by the system take the human risk."
Vanity project that lead nowhwere? It lead to the freakin moon! I am glad to see I am not alone in thinking your comments are tiresome. Surely there is a forum for nihilists out there somewhere.
Neil Armstrong was a badass in every way possible.
Now I am waiting for the hand wringing whiners to complain how this was just one more instance of American arrogance.
Since the ancients we have had political vanity projects that led nowhere. The Moon Landings are just one example, and the politicians garner the popularity, the little man pays the tax, and people elevated to herioc status by the system take the human risk.
Really, one has to stop being so taken in by the media, which is run by the same people that finance the election of governements.
ATB from George
George,
Forget the politics. Go to the Science and Technology museum next time you are in London. Go to see the command module (real, and used). Look at it for 15 minutes and just Imagine having the balls to ride it. By any measure, these guys were heros. Much more so than any of the sponsored, poncing athletes in a certain self-congratulatory orgy of mutual backslapping that happened nearby recently.
"Now I am waiting for the hand wringing whiners to complain how this was just one more instance of American arrogance."
Nah - this showed America at it's best. And no one better to be the "cover boy" than Neil Armstrong. He was that rarest entity; a total stud who had humility.
Vietnam, Iraq, & Afghanistan are instances of American arrogance. FATCA is the height of Amerikan arrogance.
But the Apollo program was a time of achievement for this country; a time for pride, not arrogance.
Since the ancients we have had political vanity projects that led nowhere. The Moon Landings are just one example, and the politicians garner the popularity, the little man pays the tax, and people elevated to herioc status by the system take the human risk.
Really, one has to stop being so taken in by the media, which is run by the same people that finance the election of governements.
ATB from George
George, I'm shocked at just how small-minded, mean spirited and philistine this post is.
Next time you're out on a clear night, take a look at the Moon, and, after you've given Neil a wink, have a think about this: from 1969 to 1972, a dozen men walked on that.
Now tell me that's not completely mind-blowing.
George has acknowledged Mr Armstrongs heroicism, but it is always beneficial to understand the context of 'mans' great achievements which often tend to be driven by politics and/or economics. And we all know the context of the space race of which Mr Amstrong was part of. However, I suspect that Neil Armstrong was driven by American pride and personal wonder. Personally, I would pay more taxes for space exploration.
And If I had the spare cash I would pay Mr Branson to see the beautiful earth from the boundaries of space, surely a site to humble any type of human ego and worth every penny just for that alone.
And I hope that what comes out of this discussion is that although this was an incredible achievement by 'man', that we learn to respect the world that we live on and the space that we inhabit as Neil Armstrong grew too. He was humble because he had no right to be anything else when confronted with what lay in front of him, that's the the real human spirit.
Cheers.
George has acknowledged Mr Armstrongs heroicism, but it is always beneficial to understand the context of 'mans' great achievements which often tend to be driven by politics and/or economics. And we all know the context of the space race of which Mr Amstrong was part of. However, I suspect that Neil Armstrong was driven by American pride and personal wonder. Personally, I would pay more taxes for space exploration.
And If I had the spare cash I would pay Mr Branson to see the beautiful earth from the boundaries of space, surely a site to humble any type of human ego and worth every penny just for that alone.
And I hope that what comes out of this discussion is that although this was an incredible achievement by 'man', that we learn to respect the world that we live on and the space that we inhabit as Neil Armstrong grew too. He was humble because he had no right to be anything else when confronted with what lay in front of him, that's the the real human spirit.
Cheers.
Hi Jasonf,I read the posts here.Some replies to George(hi there George,my name is Fabio)ain't got nothing to do with emotional:they just don't agree with him.Me too.In this thread we just remember Neil Armstrong,for what he was and for what he did in his life.Why talking about politics once more?Why talking about Nazi?I could then say something about Gagarin who belonged to a society whose leaders used to "invite unpleasant people" in Siberia.And so what?Gagarin put his ass into the Vostok 1.I like to think he did so because he loved those kind of things,as Neil Armstrong did.
Dear Fabio,
I have no difficulty with being agreed with or not by you or anyone else on this Forum.
What I am not quite so content with is being called [by others] a Philistine, or whatever, which amounts to a personal insult, rather than a reasoned argument of why someone thinks my view is wrong.
If someone puts up a convincing enough argument, I have been known to change my view! Someone who insults me will never elicit such a change of heart.
As it goes, i dislike the political decisions that led to the moon landings as I do the political decisions that led to Gegarin being fired into space ...
I have nothing against the totally remarkable efforts of the people who actually did the deeds, only the systems that caused them to be asked to in the first place ...
ATB from George
George,
I welcom you,thanks for your reply:I could never permit myself to insult you.
Dear Fabio,
I have no difficulty with being agreed with or not by you or anyone else on this Forum.
What I am not quite so content with is being called [by others] a Philistine, or whatever, which amounts to a personal insult, rather than a reasoned argument of why someone thinks my view is wrong.
If someone puts up a convincing enough argument, I have been known to change my view! Someone who insults me will never elicit such a change of heart.
As it goes, i dislike the political decisions that led to the moon landings as I do the political decisions that led to Gegarin being fired into space ...
I have nothing against the totally remarkable efforts of the people who actually did the deeds, only the systems that caused them to be asked to in the first place ...
ATB from George
Hi George
If you're referring to what I said, please note that I said what you said was philistine, not you personally. I've no idea if you're a philistine or not. But I know a philistine statement when I see one.
Kx
Dear Kevin,
Good point, but calling a view of mine Philistine [which it may or may not be] is not going to persuade me out of it all the same!
ATB from George
With all this talk of politics and the Cold War, it's interesting to note that in a speech to the UN JFK proposed that the United States and the Soviet Union join forces in their efforts to reach the moon. Krushchev declined, then apparently changed his mind. Sadly, after Dallas it didn't happen. Maybe if it had the next 25 years would have been different?
Maybe the Cuban Missile Crisis was their (mis)understanding of JFK's request..?
"You want rockets..? Sure, we got rockets. Look!"