It’s the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing today. I think one of the things I’m waxing nostalgic about today is the sense of adventure and possibility that space travel used to represent for me - the best of science plus the best adventurers. My family used to gather for a party with every launch (ending after the Challenger tragedy). And I was always sad that I was too old for Space Camp.
(I’m also not sure what it says about me that the astronaut I most feel connected to is a fictional one: Commander Tom of David Bowie’s Space Oddity. Please tell me I’m not the only one who gave way too much of my youth to listening to that particular track!)
Now, I admit, when I think about space travel it’s the WALL-E version: Humans as polluters of space and burners of fossil fuel. I clearly have a media theme going here.
Do you think we’ve all gotten too cynical? Or just more aware? Or some combination?
Here are some of the links we love to celebrate that landing, in any case:
- We choose the moon - an interactive simulation of the landing; you can even follow it on Twitter.
- The NASA anniversary website - all the facts and pictures you could ask for
- The magic of Apollo - from the BBC’s website
- Wired’s look forward to future space endeavours
- And at 1 pm ET, the Globe and Mail will be hosting a live chat - but share your thoughts with us here before you click over there!
