Our Future in Space, after Apollo 40 Years Ago

Before this day, the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon, is over, I want to recognize a person who played such a key role in that endeavor, Ed Lindaman, director of program planning for Apollo at Rockwell. The fact that Ed was the inspiration and mentor who led me to become a professional futurist is secondary to the reason I recognize him today. Rather it is for his role in Apollo.

As I write, I am watching on the TV (C-Span) Buzz Aldrin as he speaks (recorded) to the anniversary event last night at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum about our future in space. Preceding him was Kris Kraft, who was also a key leader in Apollo. They both go out of their way to recognize the thousands of people who worked in the design studios and the manufacturing floors to accomplish the mission.

Here is a story that Ed used to tell. As they worked on Apollo at Rockwell he instituted a closed-circuit TV program within the company. Each week or each day Ed would go personally to interview someone working on the project – say a person placing screws into the module. Ed would explain how this small act was critical to getting to the moon – instilling in each person a sense of personal mission. He always felt that was one of the most important things he did as director.

Aldrin in his speech just now pointed out that it was 66 years from the Wright brothers first flight to the landing on the moon. From July 20, 1969 if we add another 66 years it will be 2035, and Aldrin advocates missions to asteroids and to Mars by then. Third up is Michael Collins, Command Module pilot. He is also advocating Mars, and points out that when they went to the moon the Earth population was only 3 billion, compared to over 6 billion now, and he calls for better treatment of the planet as he also advocates for space.

When Armstrong and Aldrin landed that day in 1969, I was life guarding at Rooster Rock state park on the Columbia River. I made sure the radio broadcast was sent over the public address system, and we all listened on the beach as Eagle landed. Later I watched the replay with Walter Cronkite. It was a special day.

SpaceX Successful Launch to Earth Orbit

We all would like some good news about the future. Here is some.

One of the most impressive people I have met is Elon Musk, whom I have seen at Future In Review conferences. He was founder of PayPal as well as Zip2 Corporation, and after selling them poured his efforts and money into two primary endeavors, the all-electric car company Tesla Motors, and a private space launch company, SpaceX.

When I heard Elon a couple of years ago as SpaceX was nearing its test flights, he sounded to me like my mentor as a futurist and speaker, Ed Lindaman, who had been director of program planning for Apollo. In other words, Elon sounded like a space guy as he talked enthusiastically and confidently about how his company would achieve the first private launches into orbit, and eventually would lead the way to Mars.

Here is the good news, amazing news really. Late last month, SpaceX successfully launched the first private, liquid-fuel rocket into earth orbit. It carried a dummy payload, and demonstrated the tremendous progress that SpaceX has made in a few short years. You can watch the inspiring video of the launch here.

In the very long run humans will become a space-faring civilization, far beyond our efforts so far. This is our real destiny.

Glen Hiemstra is a futurist speaker, consultant, blogger, internet TV show host and founder of Futurist.com. To arrange for a speech contact Futurist.com.