Apollo/Moon landing stuff

I agree that everyday this week one programme or another has been talking about it, but then I realised that it's only us 'mature ' folks that experienced the excitement first hand.
But what was it all for in the first place, other than showing off to Russia? We haven't done anything to follow it up, and I agree that the plan to go again is a complete waste of money, as we are never going to live there are we? Money that could be spent making our world a better place.

Oh, there was a need for it, if you mean my 12:13:41 post, *Maddyone, as a reminder that what fills the news reports and the in-depth documentaries today will be used to wrap the fish and chips tomorrow (or would be if newspaper were still the insulatng wrapper of choice)

Elegran, I don’t think there was any need for that response.
Well yes, we were fighting fascism, it’s a fact.

I think that it's overkill but my 6 year old grandson is fascinated. It saddens me as I was living in the USA at the time and there was a real feel good feeling, even though it was in the middle of the Vietnam war. Now I look at the state of America and the hatred and am glad I lived there in a better time

Interesting. DH and I were wondering what proportion of the world population would actually remember this. We concluded that it was less than 25%. So, I suppose that more people find it fascinating than don’t. I concur that like many things, the beeb has gone a bit OTT

Don't worry. It'll stop soon, and it will be as though it never happened. It can join the cats stuck up trees and the first babies of the New Year as non-news.

Sic transit gloria mundi. (on Monday, Gloria threw up on the school bus)

I can't say that there has been that much coverage really - unless you only have one or two channels to watch that is !
I think it is amazing the amount of experimental equipment they used and took with them and how some of it is in everyday use now!
Oh and Fourormore - get off your soapbox - I'm bored with people like yourself spouting out every time something that man has achieved and is now celebrated. Sincerely hope you are practicing what you preach in all aspects, but I doubt it!

Phoenix. No it definitely isn’t just you. I have been getting fed up of hearing about this almost non stop for the past three days at least. Yes,it was a great achievement -but so much on this planet still to sort out!

I'm one of those who doesn't believe it happened. I question everything which politicians tell the population. Lots of interesting theories on You Tube to watch, either for amusement or to make you think independently, rather than accepting all facts put out by the media as truth.

As for rocket scientists and moon shots - they did at last put their expertise to positive use.

Could they have avoided taking part in the design and construction of V1 and V2 rockets, I wonder? Could any of our aircraft and bomb designers (Spitfires, Hurricanes, bouncing bombs, radar, foil "window") have refused to take part? Or was that OK because they were ours and working on the side of the angels?

Elegran, you need to visit me, you’d hear plenty of complaints about the mindless tripe that fills our screen all the time. Whilst I agree with him, Mr M does a wonderful impression of Victor Meldrew when he is complaining about the mindless tripe.

Lessismore
Maybe dull for you, takes all kinds, but no doubt was an achievement and until the next time when who knows what next we may see as for sure unless we discover new horizens this world we presently inhabit, and gradually destroying, will cease to exist.

But I don't think the TV coverage in inciting anyone to do it again . That was done already - at that time. It was brave and inspiring. The fact that you are bored with hearing about it is a testimony to the power of TV to show you amazing things ad infinitum - to the point of boredom. That boredomcan also extend to other things which should not bore - brave rescues, brave men and women protesting against inequality and neglect, against dictatorships and exploitation, invasions of countries and freedoms, news of scientific data showing the way man is raping the earth of resources and destroying resources that are in the way of profit, and man's inhumanity to man and rapaciousness to nature in all sphere. There are complaints of boredom at what an information/entertainment machine is showing in the way of entertaining and informatng - how about complaints just as loud about the mindless tripe that fill the screen hourly?

I thought it was a fantastic achievement then but I’ve had enough now. Let’s concentrate on good things that happen today.
We are all being told to use less fuel energy, plastic, etc, and just one rocket could undo all the good we are trying to do now.

Truly an amazing incredible achievement but.....50 years on, I do wonder what benefits it has made to planet earth.

I havent paid much attention until I just watched the 8 day programme - just lasted 1 1/2 hrs and it did amaze me that they did it and got back again

Yes phoenix, it’s starting to bore me too. I understand that the younger generations need to understand the history, but those who are interested will engage, and those who are not interested will simply ignore it all.
I learnt today that three of the people who were at the forefront of actually getting the Americans to the moon were Nazi criminals who were guilty of horrible crimes during the Second World War. They had previously worked on the V1 and V2 rockets, designed to destroy the UK and ultimately win the war. Thousands and thousands of slave labourers died in those infamous factories during the development of those rockets, and the fact that these criminals avoided punishment because the USA wanted to take them to the America to continue their work in order to beat Russians to the moon absolutely disgusts me.

Me too Ellan.

I think that it is more important to engage, inspire and enthuse the young generation with the possibilities of human endeavour and personal effort, than to worry about whether it might bore some of us oldies. Plenty of other things for us to watch …… B*r*s, Br*x*t......Aaaaagrh! - take me to the moon!!

I agree, it was a huge historical event and shouldnt be forgotten,but the TV has really gone OTT lets hope it was just yesterday programmes were re- arranged.

I agree. This obsession with burning up monstrous quantities of fossil fuel in a few seconds just to put a lot of tin junk on our perfectly blameless moon feels so wrong.
The whole space race thing is a long story of wasted money, macho posturing, male chauvinism, and cruelty to animals - they sent poor terrified dogs and chimps up before humans which I can’t forgive.
More impressive scientific progress would see us:
Stopping climate change
Ending all non-recyclable waste
Boosting biodiversity
Ending factory farming

There is no Planet B!

I have used the off switch more and more lately, seriously thinking of getting rid of the tv altogether and just getting on with my life.

You were too young Jane to appreciate it.

I remember watching it aged about 13 while on holiday with the family on the island of Harris. My main thought at the time was 'Is that it?'! After a TV lifetime of Fireball XL5 and Thunderbirds etc the real thing seemed so boring.

Also, at the time there was a spirit of optimism around, Things had been gradually getting better as the devastations of world war were mended and conditions improved in most countries. It seemed that nations were learning to live together on peaceful terms (give or take a bit of posturing) and there were efforts to equalise the differentials between rich and poor. It looked as though those improvements were going to continue. It was worth branching out and doing something - something exciting for a change - that had never been done before.

We didn't realise then that human nature doesn't change, that greed and spite were waiting to be unleashed again, against people of other countries and people of the same country, indiscriminately, and seem more important than preserving the earth we had inherited and cherishing humanity in all its variety. Living well hadn't yet blunted the edge of concern for others less lucky. Temperature extremes and evil regimes hadn't begun to make some lands less pleasant to live in so that their inhabitants seemed to threaten to overwhelm the more fortunate areas and cause bitterness. Welfare budgets did not appear to be stretched to the limit.

You can't judge a past project by the arguments you would make against it now.