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In my mind, the Apollo 11 Mission -- landing a man on the moon and bringing him safely back to earth -- is one of the last truly GREAT feats of engineering in our time.

The plans were NOT drawn using a Computer Assisted Drawing (CAD) program. The Personal Computer had not yet been developed. Texas Instruments would not introduce the "pocket calculator" until three years AFTER Apollo 11.  Slide Rules were used for quick calculations of complex mathematical problems.  Men had to THINK and DREAM and envision a real plan! And work together to pull it off.

On July 20, 1969, America watched as the Eagle Landed on the moon. I was 16 years old, a kid in high school. But I remember looking at the moon, and thinking of all the planning that had to go into such an effort. Now, many years later, and having acquired at least a working understanding of computers, I am  even more amazed.

Several years ago, I was listening to a radio talk show in Houston, and Astronaut Deke Slayton was the guest. Deke was one of the original astronauts from 1959, and died shortly after that broadcast in 1993. Deke had been project manager of the Apollo program. When the host asked him the question, "Deke... could we go back to the moon today?", there was a long pause. Then Deke spoke very carefully and clearly. I don't remember the EXACT words, but I am sure this is pretty close.

He said, "Mike, we could... but it would cost at LEAST 20 times as much, and it would take at least twice as long to gear up... we have lost the vision... the will... that was a 'special era'... where man was willing to be challenged, to excel... I don't see that in this generation".

It WAS a special time. And i still get goosebumps when i hear those words... "Houston... tranquility base here... the Eagle has landed!"