General Discussion

Hekate

(90,683 posts)

193. I was 21 & in college, had read sci-fi since I could read. It just seemed like where we should be...

Mon Jul 22, 2019, 03:17 AM

Jul 2019

You know? Okay, here we go. Next stop, build a base on the Moon. I had dreamed of this all my life. My teenage sister wanted to be an engineer and apply for the astronaut program.

Satellite phone service was great: in Hawai'i we had to rely on an undersea cable, so when I called my mom in California it cost me a dollar a minute, at a time when I was making about $1.25 an hour. Of course it took the phone company several years to stop charging us a buck a minute. The orbiting international space station was great. So was the space shuttle.

But were we really supposed to fill up the night sky with... satellites for tv and radio stations? Crappy commercial stuff? Were we really supposed to give up the Moon for that?

And when we gave up our US space shuttle and started bumming rides with Russia? What the hell kind of planning is that?

Sadly, I have skipped the celebrations. I feel let down. I feel betrayed. Trump's Space Farce has just been the frosting on the cake that got left out in the rain.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

198 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Did you see Man walk on the Moon 50 years ago? [View all] edhopper Jul 2019 OP

knr. i was 6 and remember it clearly. Appreciate what those brave ppl did. Kurt V. Jul 2019 #1

About the same age - 5 1/2 maxsolomon Jul 2019 #196

I was in my early twenties. dhol82 Jul 2019 #2

Yes, I did. I was enthralled. Arkansas Granny Jul 2019 #3

Yep. I wasn't quite 5. JHB Jul 2019 #4

I was almost 21. murielm99 Jul 2019 #5

I was 24 and 9 months pregnant alfie Jul 2019 #6

Wow! That was a long pregnancy. TheCowsCameHome Jul 2019 #66

I was 19 with a week old colicky infant samnsara Jul 2019 #75

Yes I was 14. redstatebluegirl Jul 2019 #7

Same here. SCVDem Jul 2019 #113

Was 15 DeminPennswoods Jul 2019 #130

yes Skittles Jul 2019 #8

We had a death in the family that weekend mainstreetonce Jul 2019 #9

that's sad. barbtries Jul 2019 #71

Just a few weeks before my 5th birthday alphafemale Jul 2019 #197

Oh yea for sure! bluestarone Jul 2019 #10

sounds like we're about the same age.... mike_c Jul 2019 #11

Yes, I'd just graduated from college, watched on B&W tv. The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2019 #12

I was 9. I remember. rateyes Jul 2019 #13

I was a couple weeks shy of my 8th birthday. Remember that day clearly! LiberalLoner Jul 2019 #14

I couldn't watch the whole thing through GP6971 Jul 2019 #15

Yes, it happened the day after I turned 21 and I was at home with sinkingfeeling Jul 2019 #16

I was 7 FoxNewsSucks Jul 2019 #17

Heard it on radio. tonedevil Jul 2019 #18

Yes! My dad sat us all down for it. bitterross Jul 2019 #19

Oh, yes! Literally awesome. The afternoon before, while Hortensis Jul 2019 #20

I was 14, living on Nellis AFB. Very hot summer day. The whole family was watching our B/W TV. yonder Jul 2019 #21

I saw it. I listened to or saw all the Apollo launches and landings. lunatica Jul 2019 #22

I did. Useless in FL Jul 2019 #23

I was 5 years old misanthrope Jul 2019 #24

My mother tells me I did! GulfCoast66 Jul 2019 #25

Me too. Chellee Jul 2019 #165

I was almost 7 at the time. amb123 Jul 2019 #26

Yep...whole family was there. N_E_1 for Tennis Jul 2019 #27

I was a young mom of 19 Democrat 4 Ever Jul 2019 #28

I was nine. CousinIT Jul 2019 #29

Yes. Lint Head Jul 2019 #30

I was 13 years old visiting my grandparents in Chicago kimbutgar Jul 2019 #31

If you grew up in my socioeconomic class misanthrope Jul 2019 #57

Same here! MuseRider Jul 2019 #74

Oh hell yes. hunter Jul 2019 #32

Yes. I was six and always JenniferJuniper Jul 2019 #33

Do you live up on a hill? MuseRider Jul 2019 #77

yes richsonpoordad Jul 2019 #34

I was 20 years old and was a camp counselor that summer. Stonepounder Jul 2019 #35

I was at camp that summer too. Scurrilous Jul 2019 #108

Yes lordsummerisle Jul 2019 #36

22 yrs old then, working in a law office... they had a tv going... secondwind Jul 2019 #37

The TV was snowy. I was impressed by the delay in radio/TV transmission time irisblue Jul 2019 #38

I was 14 and was riveted by it. trev Jul 2019 #39

I was 18 and working for Mayflower as a summer job in D.C. panader0 Jul 2019 #40

21 and watching with my wife to be. GeorgeGist Jul 2019 #41

Yes. I was 9 years old and remember it vividly. Nt MANative Jul 2019 #42

I was a just a kid, messing around an old quonset hut shed at my grandparents yaesu Jul 2019 #43

12 years old and GLUED to the television. Ferrets are Cool Jul 2019 #44

Same here. This morning, I posted my recollections on my Facebook page. n/t John1956PA Jul 2019 #116

... Ferrets are Cool Jul 2019 #170

I was in my third year of teaching, and the school set up TVs so we could watch. pazzyanne Jul 2019 #45

Yes. Living in Houston as a teen. kairos12 Jul 2019 #46

I heard it while driving. jalan48 Jul 2019 #47

I was six but I never forgot Demonaut Jul 2019 #48

Yes I was 7 Tribalceltic Jul 2019 #49

Yes colsohlibgal Jul 2019 #50

Our son was born June 10, 69. We watched,listened, tape with periodic baby cries bobbieinok Jul 2019 #51

Yes Dave in VA Jul 2019 #52

I was 13 and at summer camp. . . DinahMoeHum Jul 2019 #53

Yes. madinmaryland Jul 2019 #54

I sure did. Will NEVER forget it. Seemed like hope was infinite then. n/t TygrBright Jul 2019 #55

Yes. I was 21 years old. EOM. TruckFump Jul 2019 #56

I was 16. BadgerMom Jul 2019 #58

Yes MacKasey Jul 2019 #59

Saw it with friends randr Jul 2019 #60

Yes! sdfernando Jul 2019 #61

Growing up in the late 50s, fascinated with Sputnik... moonseller66 Jul 2019 #62

21, in married student housing with my very pregnant wife. n/t rzemanfl Jul 2019 #63

8 years old SilasSouleII Jul 2019 #64

Yes I was 18 and just graduated from high school FakeNoose Jul 2019 #65

Yes. 13 years old. Boomerproud Jul 2019 #67

i did. barbtries Jul 2019 #68

At Kansas University MuseRider Jul 2019 #69

I was in San Diego gladium et scutum Jul 2019 #70

I saw one moon landing. Don't know which Apollo it was. My dad made a joke that someone's toothbrush applegrove Jul 2019 #72

yep!!! it was pretty cool..kinda scratchy and snowy on the b/w set samnsara Jul 2019 #73

No, I was in the Army in Vietnam Crabby Appleton Jul 2019 #76

Yes I saw it when I was in the army stationed in Germany. We watched it in the dayroom on a doc03 Jul 2019 #78

Yes I watched Rebl2 Jul 2019 #79

I was 15 days old Thew Jul 2019 #80

11 here... I can still see the room getagrip_already Jul 2019 #81

Yes I did podex101 Jul 2019 #82

Absolutely! SeattleVet Jul 2019 #83

I was 8 and my mom woke me up from my sleep, along with my sibs meow2u3 Jul 2019 #84

21, watched it with my 15 month old son mountain grammy Jul 2019 #85

Yes! marigold20 Jul 2019 #86

Yes, it was must-see TV in my house Martin Eden Jul 2019 #87

Absolutely. Igel Jul 2019 #88

I was 3.5 Gore1FL Jul 2019 #89

Yes, I did see it and remember it like it was yesterday. llmart Jul 2019 #90

I was twelve-years-old and watched at my friend's house. Laffy Kat Jul 2019 #91

with happening 50 years ago..... uptrumps_but Jul 2019 #92

Yes I did. My dad was a contractor for NASA. jojog Jul 2019 #93

i was a small boy when that happened and my mouth hit the floor and ate it up. AllaN01Bear Jul 2019 #94

Yep.. i was a teenager. 14 years old and fascinated by it all. honest.abe Jul 2019 #95

9 yrs old. Watched it at a neighbor's house since we still didn't have a TV. eppur_se_muova Jul 2019 #96

I remember that hologram! misanthrope Jul 2019 #120

Yep, red He-Ne laser -- that's all we had back in the day. :) eppur_se_muova Jul 2019 #174

I was six. warmfeet Jul 2019 #97

I did! With my family! CottonBear Jul 2019 #98

Yes. I worked in Q.C. for a company which made items for the space ship. Frustratedlady Jul 2019 #99

I was 16, in Ft Lauderdale with my Family, visiting relatives. Talitha Jul 2019 #100

Parts of it... mnhtnbb Jul 2019 #101

I had my appendix out Marthe48 Jul 2019 #102

A way you will never be. spike jones Jul 2019 #103

I was 50 days old proud patriot Jul 2019 #104

Yes. My husband (just returned from bootcamp), I and our 1 month old daughter watched together. ancianita Jul 2019 #105

So many cool stories Marthe48 Jul 2019 #106

Yes! LAS14 Jul 2019 #107

Yes! And just the year before, proActivist Jul 2019 #109

My favorite movie edhopper Jul 2019 #110

Two formative movies I saw that Summer I was ten...2001, A Space Odyssey and Kelly's Heroes pecosbob Jul 2019 #123

You gotta stop edhopper Jul 2019 #133

Two yeses here. LakeArenal Jul 2019 #111

Yes. I was 9. CentralMass Jul 2019 #112

the days around July 20, 1969 are quite memorable.... VarryOn Jul 2019 #114

Apollo 11, Earth SCVDem Jul 2019 #115

Yes n/t trackfan Jul 2019 #117

Yes.. Historic NY Jul 2019 #118

My wife and I just watched it all again exactly fifty years later. hunter Jul 2019 #119

I was 10 MFM008 Jul 2019 #121

I was 13 remember marlakay Jul 2019 #122

On our turquoise blue naugahyde sofa pecosbob Jul 2019 #124

Yes scarletlib Jul 2019 #125

I remember it clearly. I was working with elderly patients at a psychiatric hospital. Vinca Jul 2019 #126

Yes, I was 9 treestar Jul 2019 #127

I had to "see"it via a transistor radio (remember those?) zeusdogmom Jul 2019 #128

Pregnant for second kid. tavernier Jul 2019 #129

I was 15, and remember it well. nt Granny M Jul 2019 #131

I was 15, too. Silver Gaia Jul 2019 #137

I was with a group of friends. Granny M Jul 2019 #155

I was 9 and we were glued to the tv LittleGirl Jul 2019 #132

Yep. I was 19 years old. nt tblue37 Jul 2019 #134

We watched from my Uncle's place in Huntsville, Alabama, where he worked on the Apollo pgm... SWBTATTReg Jul 2019 #135

You betcha! Bayard Jul 2019 #136

I was so mesmerized by it that murielm99 Jul 2019 #138

Yes Daphne08 Jul 2019 #139

I was watching on our small B&W TV, while studying for doctoral language requirement. TryLogic Jul 2019 #140

YES! love_katz Jul 2019 #141

I was still doing fetus stuff then. Codeine Jul 2019 #142

I'm sure I did, but I was only six, and didn't have a good understanding of what was going on. Crunchy Frog Jul 2019 #143

We went next door to watch it on the neighbour's TV TrogL Jul 2019 #144

Our small class of ancient Greek had gathered together to do our homework, as we did every Karadeniz Jul 2019 #145

Yes jpak Jul 2019 #146

Yes. nt Ilsa Jul 2019 #147

I love reading these stories! I can only imagine how exciting it must have been to be a kid back lunamagica Jul 2019 #148

I was 15 SouthernLiberal Jul 2019 #149

Always liked this scene misanthrope Jul 2019 #150

I have no memory of Apollo 11 Brother Buzz Jul 2019 #151

I was 5 and remember my mom sitting me down in front of the tv to watch it AdamGG Jul 2019 #152

Yes. Down on Cape Cod while on vacation. edbermac Jul 2019 #153

I was 11 JPPaverage Jul 2019 #154

I was 17. ashling Jul 2019 #156

Did I read some where, that during that time period the most popular show on TV yuiyoshida Jul 2019 #157

It wasn't the most popular show on TV then misanthrope Jul 2019 #161

Nope sarge43 Jul 2019 #163

I was 16, and I remember that the streets of our little town were deserted. Number9Dream Jul 2019 #158

Yes, I did. OldEurope Jul 2019 #159

Yep. Won't see it today, though. I've got DirecTV. Iggo Jul 2019 #160

26 at the time sarge43 Jul 2019 #162

yep, teenager Hermit-The-Prog Jul 2019 #164

I was 11. I also saw the launch from a pontoon boat in the Indian River. n/t ColesCountyDem Jul 2019 #166

That is very, very cool! edhopper Jul 2019 #167

It was awesome! ColesCountyDem Jul 2019 #194

I was 7 BumRushDaShow Jul 2019 #168

I was 9 years old. n/t ChazII Jul 2019 #169

I was a rowdy 20 year old. SergeStorms Jul 2019 #171

Sadly no Niagara Jul 2019 #172

My college boyfriend & I were bumming around & in Paris. Watched on a tv in a store window. stuffmatters Jul 2019 #173

I was almost 21, in college yellowdogintexas Jul 2019 #175

I was 7 SallyHemmings Jul 2019 #176

No I heard it Runningdawg Jul 2019 #177

I was -7 years old krispos42 Jul 2019 #178

I was 6 kwijybo Jul 2019 #179

Recommended. H2O Man Jul 2019 #180

Dad was a NASA engineer ThoughtCriminal Jul 2019 #181

I'm seriously envious misanthrope Jul 2019 #191

Yes, it was an intense week with three victories MasonDreams Jul 2019 #182

No, I was 4 ellie Jul 2019 #183

I was thirteen at the time NoPasaran Jul 2019 #184

Yes ornotna Jul 2019 #185

17 in 1969 Schmice3 Jul 2019 #186

Didn't happen Ahpook Jul 2019 #187

Post removed Post removed Jul 2019 #198

This "old fart" was 17 and trying not to be FailureToCommunicate Jul 2019 #188

YES absolutely. One of those moments you remember so vividly, even as to where we were! n/t MFGsunny Jul 2019 #189

Yes, my whole family was huddled around our small, flickering black & white TV. SunSeeker Jul 2019 #190

I remember it all happening but not much else... tenderfoot Jul 2019 #192

I was 21 & in college, had read sci-fi since I could read. It just seemed like where we should be... Hekate Jul 2019 #193

My Reaction Was Different RobinA Jul 2019 #195