This entry at Hit&Run reminded me that today is the 35th anniversary of the very first (Armstrong-Aldrin) moon landing. And I do concur with Ronald Bailey when he writes that "Government-financed moon trips were the moral equivalent of building pyramids in space."
There's no telling what economic disruptions were caused by President Kennedy's huge, coercively-financed pet projects--the Vietnam war and the race to the moon--and there's no way of telling how those dislocations are still with us today. For those among other reasons, Kennedy is no hero. But astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins were, and deserve thunderous applause for their physical and mental courage in doing what they did. Bailey links to this NASA page, for a start.
To astronauts and cosmonauts everywhere--including those at the privately-financed SpaceShipOne effort--I wish you all fair winds and following seas. And to Messrs. Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins: happy anniversary, gentlemen. Thanks for the memories.
Posted by Craig Ceely at July 20, 2004 11:34 AM