Buzz
Neil Armstrong, who would have been 87 today, is celebrated as both a "humble American icon" and "the embodiment of humanity's spacefaring dreams and aspirations." He wasn't one for many words, but those he did speak were always meaningful and sometimes even laced with humor. Below are some of the most notable letters and notes penned by the first man on the moon.
1. ITS TRUE BEAUTY LAY IN THE FACT THAT IT FUNCTIONED.
There was much uncertainty about what would unfold once Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped outside the relative safety of the Apollo 11 spacecraft. This reality wasn’t lost on Armstrong, who expressed his gratitude in a letter to the team who crafted his spacesuit.
Letters of Note2. AMERICA MUST DECIDE IF IT WANTS TO STAY A LEADER IN SPACE.
It’s well-known that NASA’s funding has dwindled significantly in recent years. Neil, along with James Lovell and Eugene Cernan, had strong opinions about this. The trio penned an open letter to President Obama, urging him to safeguard the United States' leadership in space exploration and technology. The letter concludes with a sobering forecast and some counsel:
For the United States, which has been the foremost space-faring nation for nearly fifty years, to lack the capability to reach low Earth orbit or conduct human exploration beyond Earth for an uncertain period of time, will relegate our country to the ranks of second or even third-rate nations. While the President’s plan envisions human exploration beyond Earth, possibly toward Mars, the absence of fully developed rockets and spacecraft ensures that such endeavors will not be feasible for many years. Without the practical experience gained from operating actual spacecraft, the USA is in danger of descending into mediocrity. America must make a choice about whether it wishes to continue as a space leader. If so, we must launch a program that gives us the greatest chance of achieving that aim.
(Here’s the full letter.)
3. ALL OF THIS KNOWLEDGE IS THERE FOR YOU TO EXPLORE.
In 1971, the children's librarian of Troy, Michigan's newly established public library sent out dozens of letters to prominent figures around the world, inviting them to speak to the children of Troy about the significance of libraries, books, and reading. Among the responses was a message from Armstrong:
Through books, you will encounter poets and novelists whose works will ignite your imagination. You will meet great minds who will share their philosophies, their views of the world, humanity, and creation. You will learn about pivotal events that have shaped our history, witnessing both noble and shameful deeds. All this knowledge is there for you to explore… Your library is a treasure trove for your mind and spirit. Use it wisely.
4. I FIND THAT PUZZLING.
After NPR’s Robert Krulwich pondered on-air why the astronauts remained so close to their landing site (less than 100 yards from their lander), Armstrong took the time to send a detailed letter of clarification, which concluded with a reflection on the importance of space exploration (emphasis added):
Later Apollo missions were able to travel further and explore larger areas, especially with the addition of the Lunar Rover in 1971. However, in KRULWICH WONDERS, you raise an important point, one I highlighted in my testimony before the House Science and Technology Committee in May. I said, "Some ask why Americans should return to the Moon. "After all," they argue, "we've already been there." I find that perplexing. It would be like 16th-century monarchs declaring, "There's no need to go to the New World, we've already been there." Or like President Thomas Jefferson in 1803 saying, "We need not venture west of the Mississippi, the Lewis and Clark Expedition has already been there." Americans have visited and studied 6 locations on the Moon, ranging from the size of a suburban lot to a small town. That still leaves over 14 million square miles to explore. I hope this small insight into your question, 'Who knew?' proves helpful.
(Read the full transcript here.)
5. IT WAS DEFINITELY A THRILL FOR ME.
On the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing, Armstrong wrote a personal letter to the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex, the team that facilitated communication between Apollo 11 and mission control. Part of his letter reads:
We were engaged in achieving what many thought was impossible—sending humans to the Moon. Science fiction writers like H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, and others imagined a way to get people to the Moon. But none of these authors envisioned the lunar explorers being able to communicate with Earth, transmit data, share location details, or send live footage of what they saw back to Earth. They anticipated my part of the adventure, but your role was beyond their imagination. Everyone at NASA worked tirelessly, long hours, and with unwavering dedication to ensure everything was done to the highest standard. I have no doubt that those of you who worked with us forty years ago were just as committed. It’s impossible to express how much we, the crew, appreciate your dedication and the excellence of your work.
The full text can be accessed on the Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station website.
6. NEXT TIME, MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!
After an unexpected cameo in "Mystery On the Moon," issue #98 of The Fantastic Four, where our brave astronauts are saved by four space mutants, this short note found its way to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's mailbox. Was it authentic? Who knows. But the sentiment is clear: We don't need your superheroes to reach the moon—we have science.
CyberSpaceComicsThis post was first published in 2012.
