Buzz Aldrin
For The Washington Post
On the spring morning in 1927 when Charles Lindbergh set off alone across the Atlantic Ocean, only a handful of explorer-adventurers were capable of even attempting the feat. Many had tried before Lindbergh's successful flight, but all had failed and many lost their lives in the process. Most people then thought transatlantic travel was an impossible dream. But 40 years later, 20,000 people a day were safely flying the same route that the "Lone Eagle" had voyaged. Transatlantic flight had become routine.
Forty years ago today, Neil Armstrong, Mike Collins and I began our quarter-million-mile journey through the blackness of space to reach the moon.
| Lisa A. Philadelphia, PA |
July 16th, 2009 1:42 pm ET I think America should go back to the moon, for two reasons: 1 – shut up all the conspiracy theorist and 2 – shut up all the conspiracy theorist! |
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| Michael C. McHugh |
July 16th, 2009 2:08 pm ET We should set up bases on the moon and Mars, as well as build new generations of spacecraft and propulsion systems. All that will stimulate the economy and create jobs for many years. |
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| JJ |
July 16th, 2009 2:42 pm ET congratulations on the 40th anniversary to the moon.. |
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| charmichael |
July 16th, 2009 3:41 pm ET ditto! |
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| Ruth Fitzpatrick, Montclair, CA |
July 16th, 2009 4:20 pm ET Conspiracy theorist don't believe that we have gone into space. People like me believe that we have traveled around Earth in space, but don't believe that we have gone to the moon. We especially don't believe that we have a little remote controlled car rolling around on Mars. |
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| Catherine, Austin, TX |
July 16th, 2009 4:43 pm ET Shouldn't we put our efforts into promoting peace here on the planet we're already living on? Why do we have to go and live on another planet? Just my two cents, but while I think exploring space is very beneficial, I say we should admire Mars without putting our footprints all over it. |
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| Cheyla |
July 16th, 2009 9:39 pm ET Think what we could do if we took the billions or probably trillions of dollars in military defense and applied that to establishing (1) mining operations on the Moon in concert with China (I think they are ahead of us on this), (2) producing green energy for future life on the home planet, and (3) providing a better life for other organisms on Earth since we are like "Gods" to them, i.e., primates, dogs, cats, cattle, whales, etc. |
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| Annie Kate |
July 16th, 2009 10:23 pm ET Perhaps in getting back into space exploration it will give us more tools and options for dealing with climate change here. I'm all for exploring space – we may need to relocate the human population one day for survival's sake. |
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