42 years ago today one man took a small step that represented a giant leap. It was an incredible event that was both a high water mark of the early space program and just the beginning of our foray out around the block.
35 years ago today a bold robot landed on the surface of Mars and lasted long enough for humanity to have its understanding of the Red Planet be transformed.
Sadly, while Mars has had some off again, on again up close and personal attention from Pathfinder, Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity, Phoenix and, soon, Curiosity, the Moon has been largely untouched on the surface. At least by controlled landings. The last soft landed mission was Luna 24 by the Soviet Union, a sample return: it landed August 18, 1976.
To put it in perspective, my 35 year old, younger sister was a little more than a month old. I was in the midst of breaking my diaper habit.
A lot of people talk of the end of things space when the shuttle lands (tomorrow, iirc). That's not at all the case.
We are going back! And this time we're going to stay!
