{"id":346,"date":"2011-05-25T15:34:00","date_gmt":"2011-05-25T22:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.argee.net\/wordpress\/?p=346"},"modified":"2012-06-01T16:38:18","modified_gmt":"2012-06-01T23:38:18","slug":"space-the-first-fifty-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thrawnrickle.com\/?p=346","title":{"rendered":"Space \u2013 the first fifty years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mr_social_sharing_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Social Sharing Toolkit v2.2 --><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 51px; height: 21px; overflow: hidden;\"><div class=\"fb-like\" data-href=\"https:\/\/thrawnrickle.com\/?p=346\" data-send=\"false\" data-width=\"51\" data-show-faces=\"false\"><\/div><\/span><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><fb:share-button type=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/thrawnrickle.com\/?p=346\"><\/fb:share-button><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"none\" data-url=\"https:\/\/thrawnrickle.com\/?p=346\" data-text=\"Space \u2013 the first fifty years\"><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><div class=\"g-plusone\" data-size=\"medium\" data-annotation=\"none\" data-href=\"https:\/\/thrawnrickle.com\/?p=346\"><\/div><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a class=\"mr_social_share_digg\" href=\"http:\/\/digg.com\/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthrawnrickle.com%2F%3Fp%3D346&amp;title=Space+%E2%80%93+the+first+fifty+years\" class=\"mr_social_sharing_popup_link\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thrawnrickle.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-sharing-toolkit\/images\/buttons\/digg.png\" class=\"nopin\" alt=\"Digg This\" title=\"Digg This\"\/><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a class=\"mr_social_share_reddit\" href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthrawnrickle.com%2F%3Fp%3D346\" class=\"mr_social_sharing_popup_link\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thrawnrickle.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-sharing-toolkit\/images\/buttons\/reddit.png\" class=\"nopin\" alt=\"Submit to reddit\" title=\"Submit to reddit\"\/><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"linksalpha_button linksalpha_link\" href=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/social\/mobile\" data-url=\"https:\/\/thrawnrickle.com\/?p=346\" data-text=\"Space \u2013 the first fifty years\" data-desc=\"The rate of technological advance is rarely understood by the man-in-the-street. For example, the time between the Wright Brothers' first flight and Neil Armstrong's first step on the Moon was just sixty-six years. That's less that my own current life-span. From Kitty Hawk to the Sea of Tranquility\" data-image=\"\" data-button=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/images\/social_share_button.png\" alt=\"Share\" class=\"linksalpha_image\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/scripts\/loader_iconbox.js?v=2.4\"><\/script><\/span><\/div><p><DIV><br \/>\n<DIV style=\"OUTLINE-STYLE: none\"><FONT style=\"OUTLINE-STYLE: none\" class=Apple-style-span size=2 face=sans-serif><FONT style=\"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px; OUTLINE-STYLE: none\" class=Apple-style-span>The rate of technological advance is rarely understood by the man-in-the-street. For example, the time between the <A href=\"http:\/\/www.nasm.si.edu\/wrightbrothers\/fly\/1903\/index.cfm\" target=_blank>Wright Brothers<\/A>&#8216; first flight and Neil Armstrong&#8217;s first step on the Moon was just sixty-six years. That&#8217;s less that my own current life-span. From Kitty Hawk to the Sea of Tranquility &#8212; just sixty-six years.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV><br \/>\n<DIV style=\"OUTLINE-STYLE: none\"><FONT style=\"OUTLINE-STYLE: none\" class=Apple-style-span size=2 face=sans-serif><FONT style=\"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px; OUTLINE-STYLE: none\" class=Apple-style-span><BR style=\"OUTLINE-STYLE: none\"><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV><br \/>\n<DIV style=\"OUTLINE-STYLE: none\"><FONT style=\"OUTLINE-STYLE: none\" class=Apple-style-span size=2 face=sans-serif><FONT style=\"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px; OUTLINE-STYLE: none\" class=Apple-style-span>Today is another historic anniversary in the history of atmospheric\/space flight. Fifty years ago today, President John Kennedy announced that the United States through NASA would place a man on the Moon by the end of the decade. Virtually everyone who was old enough in 1961, and who had access to news sources remembers that announcement and the thrill it produced. And we did it &#8212; twelve times, in fact:<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/DIV><br \/>\n<DIV><br \/>\n<DIV><br \/>\n<DIV><BR><\/DIV><br \/>\n<DIV><br \/>\n<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\"><BR><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT>Name<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT>Born<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT>Died<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT>Age at<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT>Mission <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT>Lunar&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/B><FONT class=apple-style-span><B><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=#0645ad face=\"Arial, sans-serif\"><A style=\"OUTLINE-STYLE: none; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial\" title=\"Extra-vehicular activity\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Extra-vehicular_activity\" target=_blank><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad>EVA<\/FONT><\/A><\/FONT><\/B><\/FONT><FONT class=apple-style-span><B><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\">&nbsp;dates <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT>Employer<\/FONT><\/B><\/FONT><B><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\"><BR><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT>first step<BR><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/B><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\">1. <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=#0645ad face=\"Arial, sans-serif\"><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad>Neil <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black>August 5, 1930<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT>38y 11m 15d<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad><FONT style=\"mso-field-code: ' HYPERLINK 'http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollo_11'o \u022apollo 11't '_blank''\"><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollo_11\" target=_blank>Apollo 11<\/A><\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black>July 21, 1969<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT>NASA<\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#ddeeff><BR><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Neil_Armstrong\" target=_blank>Armstrong<\/A><\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\"><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P class=MsoNormal><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\">2. <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=#0645ad face=\"Arial, sans-serif\"><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad>Buzz <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black>January 20, 19303<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT>9y 6m 0d<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\"><A style=\"OUTLINE-STYLE: none\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollo_11\" target=_blank>Apollo 11<\/A>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT>Air Force<\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#ffe8e8><BR><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Buzz_Aldrin\" target=_blank>Aldrin<\/A><\/FONT> <\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=#ffe8e8 face=\"Arial, sans-serif\"><?xml:namespace prefix = o \/><o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P class=MsoNormal><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\">3. <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad>Pete <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black>June 2, 1930<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT>39y 5m 17d<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad><FONT style=\"mso-field-code: ' HYPERLINK 'http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollo_12'o \u022apollo 12't '_blank''\"><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollo_12\" target=_blank>Apollo 12<\/A><\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black>November <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT>Navy<\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#ffe8e8><BR><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pete_Conrad\" target=_blank>Conrad<\/A><\/FONT> <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT>July 8, 1999<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT>19\u201320, 1969<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=#ffe8e8 face=\"Arial, sans-serif\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P class=MsoNormal><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\">4. <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad>Alan <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black>March 15, 1932<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT>37y 8m 4d<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\"><A style=\"OUTLINE-STYLE: none\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollo_12\" target=_blank>Apollo 12<\/A>&nbsp; <\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black>Navy<\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#ddeeff><BR><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alan_Bean\" target=_blank>Bean<\/A><\/FONT> <\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=#ddeeff face=\"Arial, sans-serif\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P class=MsoNormal><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\">5. <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad>Alan <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black>November 18, 1923 <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT>47y 2m 18d<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad><FONT style=\"mso-field-code: ' HYPERLINK 'http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollo_14'o \u022apollo 14't '_blank''\"><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollo_14\" target=_blank>Apollo 14<\/A><\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black>February &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Navy<\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#ddeeff><BR><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alan_Shepard\" target=_blank>Shepard<\/A><\/FONT> <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT>July 21, 1998 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=2 face=\"Arial, sans-serif\">5\u20136, 1971<\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P class=MsoNormal><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\">6. <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad>Edgar <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black>September 17, 1930<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; <\/FONT>40y 4m 19d<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\"><FONT class=Apple-style-span color=#0645ad><A style=\"OUTLINE-STYLE: none\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollo_14\" target=_blank>Apollo 14<\/A><\/FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT>Navy<\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#ffe8e8><BR><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Edgar_Mitchell\" target=_blank>Mitchell<\/A><\/FONT> <\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=#ffe8e8 face=\"Arial, sans-serif\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P class=MsoNormal><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\">7. <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT>David <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black>June 6, 1932<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT>39y 1m 25d<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad><FONT style=\"mso-field-code: ' HYPERLINK 'http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollo_15'o \u022apollo 15't '_blank''\"><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollo_15\" target=_blank>Apollo 15<\/A><\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black>July 31 \u2013<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT>Air Force<\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#ffe8e8><BR><\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/David_Scott\" target=_blank>Scott<\/A> <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/FONT>August 2, 1971<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=#ffe8e8 face=\"Arial, sans-serif\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P class=MsoNormal><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\">8. <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT>James <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black>March 17, 1930 <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT>41y 4m 14d<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\"><FONT class=Apple-style-span color=#0645ad><A style=\"OUTLINE-STYLE: none\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollo_15\" target=_blank>Apollo 15<\/A><\/FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT>Air Force<\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#ddeeff><BR><\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/James_Irwin\" target=_blank>Irwin<\/A> <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT>August 8, 1991<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=#ddeeff face=\"Arial, sans-serif\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P class=MsoNormal><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\">9. <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=#0645ad face=\"Arial, sans-serif\"><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad>John W. <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black>September 24, 1930<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; <\/FONT>41y 6m 28d<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\"><FONT style=\"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px\" class=Apple-style-span face=sans-serif><A style=\"OUTLINE-STYLE: none\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollo_16\" target=_blank>Apollo 16<\/A><\/FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT>April 21\u201323, 1972<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT>Navy<\/FONT><FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=#0645ad><BR><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Young_(astronaut)\">Young<\/A><\/FONT> <\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P class=MsoNormal><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\">10. <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT>Charles <FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black>October 3, 1935<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT>36y 6m 18d<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\"><FONT style=\"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px\" class=Apple-style-span face=sans-serif><A style=\"OUTLINE-STYLE: none\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollo_16\" target=_blank>Apollo 16<\/A><\/FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT>Air Force<\/FONT><BR><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Charles_Duke\" target=_blank>Duke<\/A> <o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P class=MsoNormal><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\">11. <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT>Eugene <FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black>March 14, 1934<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT>38y 9m 7d<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\"><FONT style=\"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px\" class=Apple-style-span face=sans-serif><A style=\"OUTLINE-STYLE: none\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollo_17\" target=_blank>Apollo 17<\/A><\/FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT>December <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT>Navy<\/FONT><BR><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eugene_Cernan\" target=_blank>Cernan<\/A> <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=2 face=\"Arial, sans-serif\">11\u2013<\/FONT><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=2 face=\"Arial, sans-serif\">14, 1972<\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P class=MsoNormal><FONT class=apple-style-span><FONT style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\" color=black face=\"Arial, sans-serif\">12. <FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/FONT>Harrison<FONT style=\"TEXT-DECORATION: none\" color=black> July 3, 1935<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/FONT>37y 5m 8d<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px\" class=Apple-style-span face=sans-serif><A style=\"OUTLINE-STYLE: none\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollo_17\" target=_blank>Apollo 17<\/A><\/FONT>&nbsp;<FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/FONT>NASA<\/FONT><\/FONT><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Harrison_Schmitt\" target=_blank><BR><\/A><\/FONT><FONT style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/FONT><A href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Harrison_Schmitt\" target=_blank>Schmitt<\/A><\/P><br \/>\n<P class=MsoNormal><BR><\/P><\/DIV><br \/>\n<DIV><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=2 face=sans-serif><FONT style=\"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px\" class=Apple-style-span>Some of these names are household names, others would only be recognized by die-hard space&nbsp;aficionados. The real problem is, of course, that the last time a human walked on the Moon was thirty-nine years ago.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV><br \/>\n<DIV><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=2 face=sans-serif><FONT style=\"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px\" class=Apple-style-span><BR><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV><br \/>\n<DIV><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=2 face=sans-serif><FONT style=\"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px\" class=Apple-style-span>When Columbus &#8220;discovered&#8221; the New World, things moved forward from there. The guys didn&#8217;t stay for a while, and then pack up their marbles and go home. But that&#8217;s exactly what we have done with the Moon and worlds beyond. By any realistic measure, we should have had a continuing presence on Mars for at least twenty years, and even into the asteroid belt. What happened to the progress that took us from Kitty Hawk to the Sea of Tranquility in sixty-six years, and then left us stranded back here for the next thirty-nine years?<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV><br \/>\n<DIV><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=2 face=sans-serif><FONT style=\"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px\" class=Apple-style-span><BR><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV><br \/>\n<DIV><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=2 face=sans-serif><FONT style=\"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px\" class=Apple-style-span>In a word: Government. That&#8217;s right &#8212; Government. NASA is a government project. Initially, it was strongly supported and well funded. It made amazing progress, relatively speaking. But as national politics changed, as political priorities changed, the impetus behind NASA changed, so that we never went back, and we still are not scheduled to go back.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV><br \/>\n<DIV><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=2 face=sans-serif><FONT style=\"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px\" class=Apple-style-span><BR><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV><br \/>\n<DIV><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=2 face=sans-serif><FONT style=\"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px\" class=Apple-style-span>What do you suppose would have happened had the Wright Brothers decided to let the government take over their research and development? Do you believe we would have our present world-wide air travel system? Neither do I. But getting into space is expensive, you might argue. I don&#8217;t disagree, but look at what is happening in the commercial space flight world: <A href=\"http:\/\/www.virgingalactic.com\/\" target=_blank>Virgin Galactic<\/A>, <A href=\"http:\/\/www.spacex.com\/\" target=_blank>SpaceX<\/A>, <A href=\"http:\/\/www.xcor.com\/\" target=_blank>XCOR Aerospace<\/A>, <A href=\"http:\/\/www.googlelunarxprize.org\/lunar\/about-the-prize\" target=_blank>Google Lunar X-prize<\/A>. I suspect that if we had put the project into private hands right at the beginning, or turned it over to private industry after we reached the Moon, we might not have lost thirty-nine years.&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/FONT><FONT style=\"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px; FONT-SIZE: small\" class=Apple-style-span face=sans-serif>&nbsp;<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV><br \/>\n<DIV><BR><\/DIV><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mr_social_sharing_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Social Sharing Toolkit v2.2 --><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 51px; height: 21px; overflow: hidden;\"><div class=\"fb-like\" data-href=\"https:\/\/thrawnrickle.com\/?p=346\" data-send=\"false\" data-width=\"51\" data-show-faces=\"false\"><\/div><\/span><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><fb:share-button type=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/thrawnrickle.com\/?p=346\"><\/fb:share-button><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"none\" data-url=\"https:\/\/thrawnrickle.com\/?p=346\" data-text=\"Space \u2013 the first fifty years\"><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><div class=\"g-plusone\" data-size=\"medium\" data-annotation=\"none\" data-href=\"https:\/\/thrawnrickle.com\/?p=346\"><\/div><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a class=\"mr_social_share_digg\" href=\"http:\/\/digg.com\/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthrawnrickle.com%2F%3Fp%3D346&amp;title=Space+%E2%80%93+the+first+fifty+years\" class=\"mr_social_sharing_popup_link\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thrawnrickle.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-sharing-toolkit\/images\/buttons\/digg.png\" class=\"nopin\" alt=\"Digg This\" title=\"Digg This\"\/><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a class=\"mr_social_share_reddit\" href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthrawnrickle.com%2F%3Fp%3D346\" class=\"mr_social_sharing_popup_link\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thrawnrickle.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-sharing-toolkit\/images\/buttons\/reddit.png\" class=\"nopin\" alt=\"Submit to reddit\" title=\"Submit to reddit\"\/><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"linksalpha_button linksalpha_link\" href=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/social\/mobile\" data-url=\"https:\/\/thrawnrickle.com\/?p=346\" data-text=\"Space \u2013 the first fifty years\" data-desc=\"The rate of technological advance is rarely understood by the man-in-the-street. For example, the time between the Wright Brothers' first flight and Neil Armstrong's first step on the Moon was just sixty-six years. That's less that my own current life-span. From Kitty Hawk to the Sea of Tranquility\" data-image=\"\" data-button=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/images\/social_share_button.png\" alt=\"Share\" class=\"linksalpha_image\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/scripts\/loader_iconbox.js?v=2.4\"><\/script><\/span><\/div><p>The time between the Wright Brothers&#8217; first flight and Neil Armstrong&#8217;s first step on the Moon was just sixty-six years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,8,6,14,4,3],"tags":[425,424,429,430,431,422,421,420,413,427,416,411,419,423,415,434,414,418,432,417,410,435,412,329,409,428,426,433,406,405,408,407,436],"class_list":["post-346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-events","category-engineering","category-history","category-politics","category-science","category-space","tag-alan-bean","tag-alan-shepard","tag-apollo-11","tag-apollo-12","tag-apollo-14","tag-apollo-15","tag-apollo-16","tag-apollo-17","tag-asteroid-belt","tag-buzz-aldrin","tag-charles-duke","tag-columbus","tag-david-scott","tag-edgar-mitchell","tag-eugene-cernan","tag-google-lunar-xprize","tag-harrison-schmitt","tag-james-irwin","tag-john-kennedy","tag-john-w-young","tag-kitty-hawk","tag-lunar-xprize","tag-mars","tag-moon","tag-nasa","tag-neil-armstrong","tag-pete-conrad","tag-sea-of-tranquility","tag-spacex","tag-virgin-galactic","tag-xcor","tag-xcor-aerospace","tag-xprize"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.1.1 - 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