theNoosphere.com

Space cadet Petey here, and 40 years ago today, we all know what happened.

Ten.... nine....eight.... ignition sequence start..... six.... five ..... four .... three ....two.... one...... ignition, we have lift off of Apollo 11 and the clock is running..........

Weather you now think the entire thing a hoax, or you're a firm believer that this was the first mission where mankind walked the distant land we know as the moon, where was your head way back when. How did this event effect you.

I was an 8 year old, and by that point in time, I could spit out specs for any and all rocket engines, their thrust, and power to weight ratios. Today, I can't remember what I had for dinner last night, but that's beside the point.

I truly had moon fever, and there was little on earth that I found quite as cool. Even Mario Andretti, one of my boyhood heros, winning the 500 didn't compare to the moon shot. The technology was amazing to my impressionable mechanical mind. I'd sit for hours on end, clicking through View Master slides with my friends, but on this day, I sat with my dad, watching in wonder. From the 16th to the 20th and on to re-entry, I was glued to each and every broadcast.

Thinking about, the entire family was caught up in it. We had an all day party on the 20th at my uncles place, and crowded around the RCA console TV in their "rec room" as the images were beamed like magic to us from so far away.

Well, you know where my head was. I was into it in a big way.

Hoe bout you..........

Man, do I ever remember that. I was absolutely glued to the TV-I was 20 at the time and totally thrilled by what was going on. I remember getting chills watching Armstrong take those first steps. I remember thinking "Damn! We did it, we're actually there , on the moon!"-it's one memory I'll never lose-thanks for the chance to feel it again.

I love the space program,and am a definate believer that man will have to leave thi planet one day, whether it's for sheer exploration or for survival

It's sad that ww seem to have almost abandoned the high ground. Working in downtown DC I get a chance to go by the Air and Space museum often. As I look around at John Glenn's capsule, the Apollo capsule, Chuck Yeagers X1, Lindburgs Spirit of St Louis, it reminds me tthat we, as a country, don't seem to strive for great things anymore.

Sad

I remember coming home from school (aged five) and going to bed soon after, so that I could get up in what was in the middle of the night in Ireland to watch the walk live.

I've been a physics/astronomy/engineering geek as long as I can remember and this is no doubt one of the reasons why.

I was 2. Wasn't a big day for me.

You made my day

I wasn't able to see the launch, but i remember the lunar landing--I saw it on TV, but was not able to understand a single word of the commentary--i was watching in an electronics store in Sapporo Japan--(my last duty station was Japan before i went ETS)--Although i couldn't understand the speech, i knew that a momentous event was occurring, and that America was responsible for it--i was absolutely speechless--

dlareg

I was 3. I do remember it though...because I wanted to watch cartoons on TV and when I turned the channel I was annoyed because it was on every channel (all 4 of them).

That's one of the most powerful memories of my youth. We had a big neighborhood party - hosted by the parents of my 3 best friends down the street, Mark, Doug, and Scott Henderson. Other than living through the mesmerizing hours of 9/11, I can't think of a more powerful couple of hours I've spent watching television. For years after that, we drank Tang, ate 'space food' (glorified energy tootsie-roll like things), and pretended to be those incredible guys we saw on TV. Great memories.

And who would've thought that just over forty years after that noble and brave excursion, we would try to blow the ****** up.

Really! I mean, how much more would it have cost for a couple of little rovers with dowsing rods attached, y'know?!?