Malcolm Cutchins: Apollo program tough to duplicate

Writing this on July 20, 2009 – the fortieth anniversary of the U.S. landing on the moon I have to reflect on that great feat and its implications for us today.
The launch of Apollo 11 four days earlier was broadcast live to 600 million people on seven continents at the time. Pulling off this astounding feat was certainly a major inspiration to many people that helped to fuel economic growth for many years. Much of the technology (miniaturization of electronics among many examples) spun off new companies, inspired new products like satellite technology, and is responsible for so much of the daily lives we enjoy today. The moon trip serves as a premiere example for the importance of goal setting.

“If we can go to the moon, we can (fill in the blank)” became a cliché based on the reality of what occurred for all to see. The details and intense dedication required to accomplish the feat were, unfortunately, less understood than the feat itself. Probably the most significant technology that made it happen was the propulsion capability that was developed both before and during the Apollo effort. (Russia’s competing liftoff vehicle had 33 engines and still couldn’t compete with our Saturn V with its six main engines, and our multi-stage /earth orbit /lunar orbit scheme).

The country itself was more united at the time (and less vitriolic) with the widespread acceptance that there was a formidable overseas foe that could have done us great harm in a matter of minutes. Now our foes are closer to home, or oftentimes our enemy is hidden among us.

Today, it has become increasingly difficult to get agreement on what should be done about almost anything and how it should be done. No small reasons for present-day disagreements are the financial dilemma we have placed our country in and the confusion of truth, selfishness, and propaganda on so many issues. Could our successes politically, economically, and technically – have spoiled us?

Have we allowed ourselves to be divided, ideologically or as different classes, almost to the point where united efforts have become a thing of the past? We have devised selfish issues so as to almost prevent cohesion; self-centered issues like abortion, same-sex marriage, global warming caused by man, claims of racial inequality, spending and taxations almost without limit, a virtual “war” on philanthropy, and overindulgence in celebrity worship

While there were certainly political and congressional influences on the Apollo program, it was not run by politicians.

Want to surmise whether it would have been successful if it had been? Something as high-tech as that project was run by capable, knowledgeable people, not just in NASA, but also in the hundreds of private companies and in the efforts of numerous research professors involved as well.

The Apollo program involved very high risks. The feat may never be matched.

Dr. Malcolm Cutchins is an emeritus professor of engineering of Auburn University and writes a weekly column for the Opelika-Auburn News.