The Final Frontier

While I'm not sure Neil Armstrong went to Heaven last week, I suspect that he did. I'm sure that, wherever he went, it is a far more interesting place than the Moon. But, even while he was alive, Mr. Armstrong visited a place more important to him than the Moon. In 1988, while he was standing on the steps of the Temple in Jerusalem, upon which he'd learned that centuries earlier Jesus himself had stood, Mr. Armstrong said, "It means more to me to stand on these steps than to stand on the moon." (www.travelife.ca) I pray that Mr. Armstrong has begun the journey of a (post) lifetime, not just where God once was, but in His very presence.



Neil Armstrong represents the pinnacle of the United States of America. In 1969, when Mr. Armstrong became the first to set foot on a world other than our own, America was unquestionably the most powerful, and most scientifically advanced, nation in the history of the world. At that time the future of American space travel looked bright as we envisioned astronauts planting Old Glory on Mars and beyond. But, as it turned out, only 12 men would walk on the Moon with the last being Eugene Cernan in 1972. Since then there have been no further manned space flights to have left Earth orbit. And, in 2011, President Obama discontinued the Space Shuttle program, which had been the only remaining manned space program operated by the United States, leaving us to rely on other nations for transport to the International Space Station. How embarrassing for the once great America.

While I don't believe we will ever encounter aliens (see Light Years to Next Door, April 22, 2012), I do believe that space travel is important to our society and should be reinstated. Not only did it provide a dream career goal for aspiring children everywhere, the wealth of knowledge to be gained is immeasurable. And, who knows what minerals or other materials could be discovered. In addition, there have been many products that have been created or improved because of the space program.

Someday, the first man to land on Mars will become a national hero. But, it just might be a Chinese national hero. Whoever it is, I wish Neil Armstrong could have been here to see it. We miss you, Neil, and everything you represent.