Saturday, July 17, 1999

Astronauts bask in glories past

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BY TIM BONFIELD
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Thirty years ago today, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin were streaking toward the moon. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

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        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — Tourists who happened to catch the right bus got an unexpected treat Friday: A glimpse of three former Apollo astronauts sharing their memories with reporters.

        They gathered under the shadow of a full-scale mock-up of the Saturn V rocket that launched them to the moon.

        They were Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong's crewmate on Apollo 11; Wally Schirra, commander of Apollo 7, the first manned Apollo flight; and Gene Cernan, the last man to set foot on the moon as commander of Apollo 17.

        All were gathered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first moon landing.

        “We're gaining an appreciation of the significance of the events of 30 years ago,” Mr. Aldrin said. “At the time, we were focused on what we were trying to achieve. I'm much more aware of the meaning of the space program now.”

        Mr. Aldrin often hears that today's generation doesn't share the awe of the accomplishment of 30 years ago. But with the right projects they might get excited again, he said, especially when civilians can fly in space.

        “I would like to see the next generation of the space shuttle built so that it can carry 80 to 100 passengers,” he said.

        Mr. Schirra said none of the Apollo astronauts could have imagined 30 years ago that the world would be marveling at their achievements today. That's because so many of them expected far greater achievements to have occurred by now.

        Mr. Schirra said four things helped get the Apollo project off the ground: a young, dedicated president, an army of talented NASA engineers, the Cold War and a blank check.

        “The only one of those four factors left now are the NASA workers,” he said.

        Without a vast increase in public interest, Mr. Schirra called talk of a mission to Mars “wishful thinking.”

        “We can't even keep the space station on the front page,” he said.

        Mr. Cernan said he was informed before Apollo 17 was launched that his mission would be the last one for the program. He didn't expect 30 years to pass with no return to the moon.

        “It is grossly disappointing. I think it tells us almost as much about what we haven't accomplished in space exploration as what we have,” he said.

        Mr. Cernan said he remembers standing outside NASA's immense Vehicle Assembly Building after returning from the moon and saying “We'll be on our way to Mars by the turn of the century.”

        “It hasn't happened yet, but it will in the next 15-20 years,” he said. “The crew that will fly that mission to Mars is somewhere out there in grammar school today.”

Special Apollo 11 Anniversary celebration from Associated Press

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