July 20, 1969:
A human being sets foot on the surface of the moon, followed shortly by another. The significance of this event cannot be overstated. And it all happened so fast. Even in the fast-forward pace of human history, it had been only a blink of an eye since the invention of the airplane and the first flight.
Via Rand Simberg, an evocative quote from Arthur C. Clarke:
When the Saturn V soars spaceward on nearly four thousand tons of thrust, it signifies more than a triumph of technology. It opens the next chapter of evolution.
No wonder that the drama of a launch engages our emotions so deeply. The rising rocket appeals to instincts older than reason; the gulf it bridges is not only that between world and world — but the deeper chasm between heart and brain.
There are a few folks out there who have not forgotten this day, who have some sense of the weight of it. Let's be among them, shall we?
Posted by Phil at July 20, 2003 10:18 AM | TrackBackNext stop Mars.
Posted by: dave at December 8, 2003 05:59 PM