These events were either viewed on the television or heard on radio. The television was extremely poor compared to today’s technology, but served its function. People watched at home, stadiums and gatherings. People at work would stop to watch this defining moment of national accomplishment. People watched with family and friends. People would discuss of the event continuously for weeks. Everyday went by as normal but on the mind of everyone was Armstrong and the moon.
During the period prior to the launch, Robert felt like many Americans of the time. The cold war and social turmoil set America in a state of anxiety and fear. During the launch, hundreds of millions of Americans felt empowered and hopeful, as this would mean the space race was won. When the moon landing succeeded, and Armstrong said his immortal remark, celebration and joy flourished across America. Everyone felt pride and refreshment, especially from the earlier events of the cold war, Vietnam war, death of Kennedy and King, the moon landing was a positive contrast of American triumph.
Throughout the sixties, the space race with the soviet was a large part of the social culture and what boosted technological advances. It was a national effort as a part of the cold war for America to become the world’s dominating superpower. The moon landing announced the victory of the U.S. to the world and ended an era. People went from fear, anxiety, and social unrest due to diversity to a new atmosphere of patriotism and pride. It made technology and space exploration popular. In popular media such as games and entertainment, often space was portrayed fulfilling American pride. Robert said he remember other space shots for the moon, but none was impactful as the first.
Robert thinks that currently, there’s a lack of competition and care for space exploration worldwide. Funding has been cut back from government and the public does not show great interest in the subject. However, technology has never been more powerful and there are some amazing people in the world who do care. People such as Elon Musk and his recent rocketry advances and his dream of a Mars colony. Robert feels that there’s high potential for American space programs, but it is likely to be private.
I learned that technology and society were extremely different half a decade ago. Technology was poor and not a large portion of people’s lives; however, it still accomplished the most important role of broadcasting the event to people. Society and culture were extremely different as well.
Robert Greenfield, born in 1952 in Washington, D.C.
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