Neil Armstrong, the American astronaut who was the first man to walk on the moon, has died at 82.
In a 1970 interview with BBC Television, months after he returned from the Apollo 11 mission, Armstrong recounted his experience on the moon, describing its surface and the experience in vivid detail.
To close, the interviewer asks Armstrong: “Do you think, from your knowledge of the moon, having been there, that it is going to be possible in the foreseeable future to set up scientific bases there on anything like a large scale?”
Here was Armstrong’s prediction:
Oh, I am quite certain that we will have such bases in our lifetime, somewhat like the Antarctic stations and similar scientific outposts – continually manned. Although, certainly there is the problem of the environment, the vacuum, the high and low temperatures of day and night.
Still, in all, in many ways, it’s more hospitable than Antarctica might be.
There are no storms, no snow, no high winds, no unpredictable weather phenomena that we’re yet aware of, and the gravity is a very pleasant kind of place to work in – better than here on earth. I think it would be quite a pleasant place to do scientific work, and quite practical.
Here is the full interview:
Armstrong’s optimism exemplified the golden era of space exploration in the United States and he will forever be remembered for his contribution to American ideals.