The Apollo program’s stunning technical success depended on a government leadership culture, an industrial organization, a tolerance for risk and a political environment that don't exist today — even as NASA insists it'll land humans on the moon in 5 years
Gerry Griffin, left, and Tom McMullen enjoy celebratory cigars at Mission Control in Houston after the Apollo 11 crew’s successful return to Earth in July 1969.
Honeycutt was among more than a dozen Apollo-era leaders and contemporary space experts who agreed, in interviews, that changes in American society have made the idea of landing humans on the moon far“Technically it would be easier today, because we have more tools,” said Gerry Griffin, an Apollo-era flight director who later became chief of the Johnson Space Center in Texas. “Politically and financially it would be a different question. I am not sure we could ever get that reestablished.
These legends of the Apollo era say the most important ingredient of the moon landing was not the technology, though it was one of the greatest bursts of engineering in human history, but the management, national commitment and personal motivation of the participants. These were years of 60-to-80-hour work weeks. Engineers were run ragged. There were ulcers, heart attacks, heavy drinking, chain smoking, abandoned families, divorces and the ever-looming threat that the Soviet Union would steal the prize. And onestaff of German rocket scientists who had worked for Adolf Hitler before their capture by the U.S. Army in World War II.
But the motivation then was the Cold War. The Soviet Union had humiliated the United States by launching the first satellite in 1957 and then the first human into orbit in 1961. To a world split between West and East, the Soviet breakthroughs argued that communism could outperform capitalism., President Kennedy said, “No nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in the race for space.
“People say the reason Apollo was successful is that we were trying to beat the Russians,” Honeycutt said. “That may have been true in Washington, but I can tell you in the Mission Control Center and the other centers, beating the Russians was not in anybody’s mind.
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
The Moon Market: Inside The Multimillion-Dollar Craze For Space And Apollo 11 CollectiblesTheft! Moon dust! Otherworldly prices! Heading into Apollo 11’s 50th anniversary next week, sellers are betting that the market for space memorabilia will rocket to new heights.
Leer más »
The Moon Market: Inside The Multimillion-Dollar Craze For Space And Apollo 11 CollectiblesTheft! Moon dust! Otherworldly prices! Heading into Apollo 11’s 50th anniversary next week, sellers are betting that the market for space memorabilia will rocket to new heights.
Leer más »
11 Reasons You Will Never Be A MillionaireDo you dream of becoming a billionaire like Kylie Jenner? Well, you need to become a millionaire first. We cover 11 common financial mistakes that will keep most people from ever becoming a millionaire. Read here to find out how many of these costly blunders you are making, and how to overcome them.
Leer más »
U.S. House approves funding for 9/11 responders, sends to SenateThe U.S. House of Representatives on Friday approved legislation to permanently ...
Leer más »