Human society has been in existence for tens of thousands of years. During the majority of that time, human achievements happened relatively slowly. For the vast majority of those who ever lived, it is likely that they did not experience a true watershed, defining moment of human endeavor. And yet, on July 20, 1969, humanity not only witnessed, but birthed an audacious accomplishment that is akin to our ancestors’ first steps towards a prehistoric fire that burned in the stump of a lightening struck tree: we landed men on the moon.
Foot imprinting on the dust of the Moon – Apollo 11, July 1969
Our first avatar on that journey was Neil Armstrong. – By all popular accounts, a man of equal parts heroism and humility.
With that thought in mind, I’m left measuring our loss at his death this August, which seems to mark the passing of a time of high-adventure in contrast with my joy over the spectacular success of the latest Mars rover: the aptly named ‘Curiosity’, which touched down on the red planet in heart-pounding fashion on August 6th.
(Here, I must add, that I take great satisfaction that the rover’s landing site was named after the late great Ray Bradbury – one of my favorite authors.)
Curiosity’s first tracks – Mars – August 2012
I marvel and am thrilled at the tracks left by Curiosity and it is fantastic achievement not only of technology and intellect but of passion for exploration. And yet: I still dream... I dream that I’ll see a person touch boot to the red soil of Mars in my lifetime.
The regret on our side is, they used to say years ago, we are reading about you in science class. Now they say, we are reading about you in history class.
– Neil Armstrong
Space is our new savannah. – It is where lightening has struck, where the ember burns and where we must step if we are to advance.
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