by Jeff Reinke, Editorial Director, PD&D
Like many of you, I read David Mantey’s column last week in which he discussed the younger generation’s perceived malaise about landing on the moon.
While most celebrated the anniversary of our “one small step,” he lamented that to many in this age of heightened technological expectations it just wasn’t a big deal. I then battened down the hatches in preparation for the storm of responses it might, and did, generate. (With all due respect to the opinions of Jack T, David’s desk is neither clean nor uninhabited.)
While no one will argue with the accomplishment of said feat, I thought David’s point was interesting and I do agree that many of NASA’s endeavors generate only a ho-hum acknowledgement, especially from those who didn’t live through the early stages of this agency’s development. However, in many ways these lassie-faire attitudes are really the ultimate compliment for those who pioneered space travel.
I say this because it seems their work has fallen into the same category as a number of other technologies that we are regularly exposed to, but rarely think about.
I couldn’t tell you the names of the individuals responsible for the modern day refrigerator and I definitely take it for granted, but we certainly don’t celebrate the first time one was used. The same could be said for countless other every day items that have become ingrained into our daily existence.
In my opinion, walking on the moon impacts today’s generation the most by mitigating any limitations that might be in place, and helps set a new bar that still permeates throughout the service, design, production and engineering communities.
Although there are any number of areas that I could point to for such an example, I have to reference a recently received a press release that details a new fountain pen design.
Before you laugh, the product in question is from the German manufacturer Lamy and it retails for $300. That’s right – a $300 fountain pen.
Now, I’m not going to claim expertise on the subject of writing instruments – I thought the $20 Cross pen I received as a graduation present was exorbitant – but I’m guessing there were probably earlier models with fewer features and less distinguishable designs before the dialog3 was unveiled.
Constant motivation to further innovate has produced a product that is so over-engineered; few will ever have the need. But it’s still sets an impressive benchmark for what I’d consider a commodity item.
Similarly, before landing on the moon we were happy with land lines and typewriters. Now, cell phones and wireless internet connections drive communication.
So was landing on the moon a big deal? Of course, and David would agree. But the fact that more people would pay $10 to see the latest Transformers movie than watch a free shuttle launch from the comfort of their own home is a testament not to generational indifference, but to the competence, foresight and accomplishment of those associated with Apollo 11.
If it wasn’t for their work, we might all have to suffer through the use of disposable ballpoint pens, but at least for $300 you wouldn’t run out of them any time soon.
What's your take? Comment below.