And I Will Go Sailing No More

[bloodyrosemccoy]

So the Neil Armstrong display we had at work is already down, leaving behind a rather hollow feeling.

At first I was a little surprised: I didn't think I'd be quite so broken up about his death.* But the moment I got the news, it brought home, in ways that XKCD chart could not, that at this point the most astounding thing we've ever done is something in the past. Neil didn't open a floodgate. It was just a blip.

On the one hand, I'm perversely glad--he lived his whole life as a unique, mind-boggling explorer. Moonwalkers aren't exactly commonplace, so he kept a distinction in life and death that we might not have perceived had we continued traveling there and established permanent bases or an amusement park WITH BLACKJACK! AND HOOKERS! or something.**

But on the other hand, I really hope his death does for others what it did for me--reminds us that if we don't do something soon, we are going to run out of people who can remember standing on ANOTHER FUCKING PLANET. And we need people who know, in the way only experience can teach you, that IT CAN BE DONE. I don't want to lose that certainty. I don't want to have to start over.

So I toast you: Neil and the other three vanished Moon Men, and another toast to the eight we still have. You guys know it's possible. Keep reminding us.


*Possibly because I wasn't entiredly convinced he could die. The other Apollo dudes were, y'know, dudes, but I've been under the subconscious impression that the Apollo 11 guys were selected because they were indestructible.

**Of course, even now some of his distinction has waned rather patheticlally. I went to work on August 25th and kept telling people "Neil Armstrong died!" and everyone under 40 replied with "Aww, after all this steroid scandal, too!"

Comments

[beccastareyes]

**Of course, even now some of his distinction has waned rather patheticlally. I went to work on August 25th and kept telling people "Neil Armstrong died!" and everyone under 40 replied with "Aww, after all this steroid scandal, too!"

There are times when I'm glad I work as an astronomer. This is one.

[stormteller.livejournal.com]

There's a bit of an internet meme going around now about people mistaking Neil Armstrong for Lance or that singer, whoever he is. I think if someone I knew made that mistake I might actually punch them in the face.

The moon walk is quite probably the crowning achievement of human history. Neil Armstrong could be among the most important people to have ever lived. That this happened over 40 years ago and has not been exceeded in that time is just fucking pathetic.

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

I suspect that Lance, at least, was guiltily pleased at the timing. (And I suppose I can see how it'd happen, the way brains are set up--Lance Armstrong was in the news, your brain kept seeing stuff on Lance Armstrong, blah blah Lance Armstrong, and then "Hey, Neil Armstrong's dead!" and your brain has a minute of MORE ABOUT THE ARMSTRONG THING. But STILL.

The moon walk is quite probably the crowning achievement of human history

I know, right? THE MOON. That's ... I mean, it's been up there forever. And we worked out what it was and how to stand on it. Holy shit.

Let's do it again!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_wastrel/]

It seems a small thing in comparison, but events like these, I've noticed between you and your readers alike, get people spontaneously thinking in terms of "we", about humankind in general, about what we're doing with, you know, all of this. And it is, I suppose, a small thing, but it's a reminder that a sense of wonder isn't wasted on the living, and I can use that. I can always use that.

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

I still get all misty every time Mission Control starts cheering in Apollo 13. It wasn't a moon landing, but it was still an example of people doing the impossible with a lot of optimism and duct tape.

As noted above, I can almost see why people would get confused, since the Armstrong in the news at that point had been Lance and brains are like that. BUT STILL.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_wastrel/]