The Astronomy Book

249

scientific priorities changed,
politicians worried about costs,
and human space travel has not
ventured farther than Earth’s orbit.
For many, the decision to end
manned moon missions was a
wasted opportunity, caused by a
lack of imagination and leadership.
However, the end of the acute Cold
War competition that gave rise to
the Apollo program heralded a new
era of international cooperation for
NASA, with Skylab, Mir, and the
International Space Station.
Gene Cernan, the last man
on the moon, predicted that it
could be another 100 years before
humankind appreciates the true
significance of the Apollo missions.
One result could be that it may have
made the US smarter—the intake
for doctoral degrees at American
universities tripled during the 1960s,
particularly in the field of physics.

Apollo contracts also nurtured

nascent industries, such as

computing and semiconductors.

Several employees of the California-

based Fairchild Semiconductors

went on to found new companies,

including Intel, a technology giant.

The Santa Clara area where these

firms were based has become

NEW WINDOWS ON THE UNIVERSE

On the final three Apollo missions,
astronauts explored the surface of
the moon on lunar rovers. The rovers
were abandoned and can still be seen
where they were left behind.

today’s Silicon Valley. But perhaps

Apollo’s real legacy is the idea

of Earth as a fragile oasis of life

in space. Photos taken from orbit,

such as the “Blue Marble” and

“Earthrise” (p.247), fed into a

growing awareness of planet

Earth as a single entity, and the

need for careful stewardship. ■

Saturn V

launch

Outbound

Inbound

LM = Lunar module

CM = Command module

SM = Service module

CSM = Command service module

Touchdown

CSM reoriented

to dock with LM LM descent

orbit insertion

CSM/

LM

undock

CSM and LM separation,

CM/SM separation CSM/LM docking LM jettison

Apollo 11’s command and service module docked
with the lunar module in orbit before heading for the moon.
Before touchdown, the service module was jettisoned, and
only the command module returned to Earth.