Why can't we?

In 1961, President John F Kennedy proclaimed that America would land a man on the moon by the end of the decade.

That promise came to pass.

The Eagle, NASA’s lunar lander, touched down on the moon’s surface on July 20, 1969, fifty years ago, in a place called the Sea of Tranquility.

This was the Apollo 11 mission, crewed by Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin.

The entire mission from earth to moon and back lasted eight days, three hours and 19 minutes.

It was a remarkable feat.

The mission faced computer overload and the necessity of changing the touchdown site. Yet, Armstrong and Aldrin walked on the moon’s surface. Armstrong upon leaving the lander uttered the famous words, “One small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Both Aldrin and Armstrong spent time collecting samples, photographing, planting an American flag and walking around testing the gravity. They even talked to President Richard Nixon in the White House.

After an allotted time on the surface, the two men reentered the lander, took off and rejoined the Columbia, the command module, which had been orbiting around the moon with Michael Collins aboard.

Then, the three headed back home.

Because of an impending storm in the Pacific, the splashdown site was changed. The module was upside down in the ocean for a short time, but the crew and the command module were safely recovered.

Hundreds of millions watched the actual landing and other portions of the history making accomplishment. Approximately, 400,000 people worked on the planning and execution of the mission.

It is said that for a while the accomplishment brought the world together. It was hailed as the greatest accomplishment of all time. It helped to calm America for a brief time, despite the raging turmoil over civil rights and violent protests over the war in Vietnam.

Now, it is said NASA is going back to the moon in 2024 with plans for operational activities on the surface in preparation for missions to Mars.

Commemorating Apollo 11 fifty years later is fitting. It shows what can be dreamed and what can be accomplished. It shows that no challenge is too great with a common will and dedication.

That is the most important message to be gained from the moon landing.

In our time, troubles, acrimony and doubt plague us. They are not insurmountable. Our problems are solvable. A question from the past, often asked after the success of the Apollo 11 project, is still appropriate today, “If we can put a man on the moon, why can’t we . . . ?