“Apollo 11” 50th Anniversary Exhibit Opening
April 25, 2019
Lithuanian Museum of Ethno-Cosmology, Kulionys, Molėtai district
Honored guests,
Fifty years ago a man stepped onto the moon and forever changed mankind’s vision of what is possible. I am sure you have all heard Neil Armstrong’s famous quote when he set foot on the moon, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Indeed, it was a giant leap. The Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon remains one of mankind’s greatest achievements. It required the very best of humanity – curiosity, ambition, innovation, and courage.
Apollo 11 inspired generations to turn to science and space exploration. Each generation pushes us further. Not only Americans, but Lithuanians, too, have answered the call to expand our understanding of the universe. More than 20 young Lithuanians have done internships at NASA in the United States, helping build connections between our countries and joining the international community of scientists.
Today, fifty years after Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon, the conversation is about traveling to Mars. Our curiosity has only gotten stronger with time. As have our ambition, innovation, and courage. In English, we have a saying, “The sky is the limit,” which is supposed to mean that there is no limit. But we have sent humans and machines far beyond the sky. We need to update that saying to, “The universe is the limit.”
I would like to thank the Lithuanian Museum of Ethno-Cosmology for hosting this event and inviting me to participate. I hope the Apollo 11 mission, and this exhibit, will inspire the next generation of scientists. Perhaps a young Lithuanian boy or girl who visits this museum will grow up to do an internship at NASA and help send the first human beings to Mars. Anything is possible, as the Apollo astronauts proved 50 years ago.
Thank you.
