Rod Pyle, Ad Astra Editor-in-Chief
As I certainly need not tell you, this year marks a half-century since the landing of Apollo 11 on the Moon, surely the most impressive and important peacetime accomplishment of the 20th century. This is something to celebrate, and media outlets across the country and around the world are creating Apollo 11 commemorative articles, books, television specials, and other content to mark the occasion (disclaimer: I will have three books on the subject out this year alone, one new and two in reprint). This reliving of history is good for the country and people everywhere who may be inspired to pursue scientific or technical careers.
It should be noted, however, that this is not just the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11. The year 2018 marked the beginning of a five-year observance of the accomplishments of the Space Age, and America’s commitment to fulfill the goal put forth by President Kennedy in 1961 “to land a man on the Moon and return him safely to the Earth.” This mandate was completed via multiple flights by a variety of crews from 1968 through 1972, and we should remember and laud everyone involved: the primary and backup crews, NASA management, the agency’s labor force, and the nearly half-million men and women across the country that made the Apollo program such an incredible success.