Neil Armstrong passed away today at age 82. He was the first man to step foot on a celestial body. He’s a lucky guy. The world won’t be forgetting him or his accomplishment any time soon. It’s been 43 years since his famous first steps and he is still a household name.
His legacy will stay with the world, with multiple worlds even, forever. Sci-fi enthusiasts, who spend so much time imagining life on other planets, will always remember that Neil Armstrong’s foot is our gateway. Our literal and metaphorical first step.
A good friend of mine always talks about how he wants to die on Mars. He believes that in the not-so-distant future the human race will have the ability to spread out among the stars. When Newt Gingrich, a candidate in the Republican primary, proposed a moon colony, many laughed at him but I discussed with friends how cool it would be to get involved in his campaign and one day be appointed governor of the moon.
Space has become such an integrated part of our culture and has extended the boundaries of our imaginations so far, and it all started in the era of exploration and of discovery, with the steps of Neil Armstrong and the work of his peers.
Neil Armstrong will be mourned and will be missed. Important and famous people will speak of his death and tweet that they hope he will rest in peace. Hopefully, people across the world will think of his death as the end of his era and the start of a new one: let’s shoot for the stars.
