“Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.”
Neil Armstrong said after his delicate last-minute manual maneuvering had set down the lunar lander on the surface of the moon
Houston, in the voice of Charles Duke as CAPCOM, replied, “Roger… We copy you on the ground. You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We’re breathing again. Thanks a lot.”
It was just eight years after President John F. Kennedy had issued the challenge to land a man on the moon and bring him back to earth safely.
Now as we mark the 50th anniversary of the landing, for any American alive then--I was a teenager--it is a moment that fills us all with pride.
But there is something else about this anniversary. Unlike so many other commemorative occasions--Pearl Harbor, D-Day, 9/11 and on and on--there is a recognition of loss, and sorrow, at the loss of life.
Memorial Day is our time to remember our veterans, especially those who gave their all. Fourth of July is celebratory, yes, but since it marks an occasion a seven years before the British surrender at Yorktown, there is more than a hint of sacrifice. It was the American Revolution.
Landing on the moon is more celebratory; it marks an achievement of the nation’s ability to work collectively and collaboratively to achieve a bold objective. So much so that whenever a significant technological challenge faces us, we sometimes call it a “moon shot.” It was as the Roman historian wrote—almost like the Star Trek mantra--“Begin, be bold, and venture to be wise.”
Here are some lessons we can take from our mission to the moon.
Dream big. President Kennedy, seeking to outdo the USSR which was then leading the space race, pushed NASA to focus on the moon. His assassination, as author Charles Fishman notes, gave further impetus to the dream. NASA was not confident the goal was possible, but they pursued it undaunted.
Marshal resources. How do you get someplace where you have never been and have no idea what will happen when you get there? Well, you assemble the best brains possible, engage government and corporate support, and pioneer new technologies, one after the other.
Overcome adversity. The history of the space race is often one of two steps forward, and one step back. Just as soon as something positive happened, there would be complications. The Apollo 1 tragedy in which three astronauts perished set the race to the moon back by over a year.
Work collaboratively. Nothing big occurs without people working together for a common goal. Were there rivalries within, and outside of NASA, of course? Even the astronauts vied hard to get the choice missions, but everyone, for the most part, put aside petty concerns to fulfill the mission. They shared their knowledge as collaborators.
Celebrate boldly. The entire world watched the lunar landing. It was a moment of exhilaration, not merely in the United States, but around the globe. The moon landing was an example of what men could do in peacetime for the good of the entire world.
Each of these steps reminds us of one thing: our ability to achieve big goals when we put our minds to it. Whether it’s a personal challenge, like starting a new business or moving up the ladder, or a collective challenge such as ensuring privacy, ameliorating climate change, or preserving the environment, little happens without a vision, the discipline to stick to it, and the commitment to keep to it, especially when the going gets tough.
“Be practical as well as generous in your ideal,” wrote Theodore Roosevelt. “Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground.” Even when you are aiming for the moon!
