Neil Armstrong, 40 years after Apollo 11
Although much in demand, the first man to have walked on the Moon answered our questions. His replies put Apollo 11 in perspective 40 years on.
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Neil Armstrong and a lunar sample at the Cincinnati Museum Center.
Credit: NASA/Bill Ingals |
Born 5 August 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio (USA), Neil Armstrong trained as an aerospace engineer Pilot in the Navy, then test pilot (notably for X-15 rocket planes), he joined NASA as an astronaut in 1962. His first flight in space took place on 16 and 17 March 1966. He commanded the Gemini VIII mission with David Scott as crewmate. Although the two-man capsule Gemini unexpectedly began rolling, almost causing the astronauts to lose consciousness due to the forces it subjected them to, Neil Armstrong demonstrated his sang-froid and managed to regain control of the vehicle. This management of a serious crisis in full orbital flight probably weighed very much in his favour when it was time to select the commander of Apollo 11, the first mission to take men to the Moon. “One small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind”: Neil Armstrong is known the world over not only because of this phrase and the historic moonwalk that followed with Buzz Aldrin but also because of the first man on the Moon’s discretion. However, contrary to what is often said, Neil Armstrong does not lead a secluded existence. He has for example taught and he participates on a very regular basis in conferences on aerospace engineering amongst other activities. We would also note that he was vice-president of the commission of inquiry for the Challenger space shuttle accident in 1986. More recently, he has recorded several films for NASA to explain the back to the Moon programme. His biography, entitled “First Man” (Simon & Shuster), was written by historian James Hansen.
Enjoy Space: 40 years later, has your own personal analysis of the first moon landing and its importance in history changed in comparison to the first years after Apollo 11?
Neil Armstrong: In the beginning of the Space Age, half a century ago, many wondered whether humans could survive in space. Once it was learned that they could, they wondered if humans could leave Earth and go to other destinations in the Cosmos. In the Apollo program it was demonstrated that the human race is not forever chained by gravity to Earth. Humans, given sufficient advanced technology, can travel throughout the solar system, search for usable natural resources and learn much about our small part of the universe which is still unknown. That possibility remains unchanged four decades later.
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Neil Armstrong on the Moon (picture by Buzz Aldrin).
Crédit : NASA |
Enjoy Space: As you frequently state, Apollo was possible because of the dedication of 400,000 people, either NASA workforce or contractors and sub-contractors. However, since then, the corporate world, including NASA, has greatly changed. In today's America, is it possible to re-ignite such dedication for the space program and in particular the return to the Moon?
Neil Armstrong: The Space Race was initiated as a component of the competition between East and West during the early decades of the second half of the 20th century. That intense competition ignited projects producing many innovative developments and encouraged many able young people to qualify for participation through advanced education in engineering, science, and mathematics. Exciting new programs will certainly motivate many new young students to strive for participation. Whether the public at large can be similarly motivated to mandate the existence of such programs is beyond my ability to predict.
NASA’s biography of Neil Armstrong
First Man published by Simon & Shuster
Published on 20 July 2009
