America’s Best Space Explorers – Remembering Our Best Astronauts

Video Above: Drone Fighter Jet vs. Manned Fighter Jet .. Who Wins?

By Miguel Alejandro Laborde, former NCO in the 160thSOAR (A)

As America once again angles for the moon, pushing top-flight engineers, aviators, astronauts, life support experts, and average Americans to dream again, there is value in looking back – as we look ahead. There is also value in solidifying these memories – lest we forget.

The last American Space Shuttle launched ten years ago, the last American walked on the moon 49 years ago (Gene Cernan), and the first two Americans ever to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, did so almost 52 years ago. Yet how easily we forget.

Today, we tend to venerate handheld computers, political leaders, often passing fads, too infrequently what matters most – human will, grit, courage, tenacity, and patriotism (read: love of high ideals), and the men and women who did things that match those qualities.

Looking back our history is studded with genuine heroes, real and lasting heroes, some of whom we recall – presidents, generals, daring military, medical, and civil leaders – and many of whom we could remember more vividly if their stories were presented prominently to us more often.

Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Mike Collins – the three who manned Apollo 11 – were all decorated military aviators. Armstrong and Aldrin, when they went to the moon’s surface, had to be ready for anything. They were, and they were calm. They almost had to abort on the way down, and almost did not get off the surface, due to a snapped circuit breaker on the ascent engine.

Yet their example precedes us, informs us, and should inspire us. We should think on it when dreaming, when daring, when flying, when willingly offering our best to the country. And yet what have we that solidifies their mission, memories, and impact on all we do – daring, science, engineering, military prowess, simple courage, basic pioneering, and a big reach upward and outward?