16 Quotes by Andrew Chaikin

It's almost as if Kennedy grabbed a decade out of the 21st century," Cernan said, "and spliced it into the 1960s." That helps to explain why, as I wrote in 1993 in the preface of this book, we weren't entirely ready for Apollo, and why we have struggled to absorb its impact ever since it happened. How could the most futuristic thing humans have ever done be so far in the past?

I can tell you with some degree of confidence that in the next millennium we'll see human beings walk on other planets and even perhaps go to other stars,

I think the excitement factor is crucial. I think that we desperately need inspiration and we desperately need an investment in our long-term future.

NASA never really adapted to that new paradigm.

NASA had to adjust to that cruel reality.

We went to the moon at the very earliest moment when it was possible. In fact, now that it's over it seems like a fairy tale. It's almost like (President) Kennedy yanked a decade out of the 21st century and spliced it into the '60s.

This time, it's personal. This space race is about getting 'us' into space.

I've been hoping and dreaming all my life to go into space. Now I actually have a shot of doing it.

They met the challenge. They met it beautifully. The energy that flowed through NASA at that time, the excitement, the adrenaline, it all stemmed from the fact that space had become very crucial to the nation's reputation and strength in the world.