as humans, we tend to forget, that in the past 100 years, we have done some impressive things. Because the environment of the moon is so stable at the moment, one of the only testaments to these achievements that will survive if we were gone tomorrow, are the moon voyage machinery, and the footprints of americans. It is a really sad 40 year anniversary for me. I have no clue how the rest of America sees NASA and its waning strength, but for me, it’s more of the theme of american culture is in decline.

Read this interesting article from seed magazine on how the goals of space travel coincide with that of earth travel and our ability to keep our planet safe.  Read this NYT article from Tom Wolfe about why space matters (it is not an ungrounded unrealistic reason either, but like global warming, one that is really pragmatic).

I feel that the forces that want to block substantive health care reform, environmental reform, thinking about education and poverty have succeeded in convincing america that space doesn’t matter. They are the forces that line up to beat down evolution and bring up superstition and ignorance.  Some believe that space exploration and the projects that lead to it are extravagant extensions of fiscal insanity. If you are one of those people, please take this day to watch two things.

Tonight @9 Discovery channel is showing a special mythbusters that will lay waste to the ridiculous cult of apollo deniers. @10, they will air the episode of When we left earth that chronicles this awesome moment: the three day trip there, the landing, and the part that we forget too often, the return to earth.

Science owes a debt to these programs and great efforts. Astronauts are scientists. Again, Astronauts are SCIENTISTS. They provide  one of the best images of who does science. The landing served as tangible, loud proof that the science of humans can achieve the unthinkable. It made it true that american optimism (and hope) is not delusional, but that fire married to science is needed to shape this very difficult existence. We are still capable of impressive things.

9:00 pm
(60 minutes)
MythBusters
NASA Moon Landing

On this episode of MythBusters, the team tackles the tallest tale of all in Moon Landing Hoax Hour. Did NASA pull off the greatest cover-up in human history?

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10:00 pm
(60 minutes)
When We Left Earth: 40th Anniversary Special

On July 20th, 1969, Apollo 11 achieved the impossible, landing men on the moon. Featuring new moon walk footage, and first person accounts from Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.