Apollo 11 and a reluctant 'superstar'

[matt]

One of the many articles doing the rounds on this 40th anniversary.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/sci-tech/a-small-step-for-man-and-a-lifetime-walking-away-20090721-dr5d.html

[stephenb]

Nice article. Thanks for posting.

[astroron]

Thanks Matt, a very good read:thumbsup:

[Lester]

Enjoyed that, thanks Matt.

[TheDecepticon]

Yeah, that was good. Thanks.:thumbsup:

[erick]

Thanks Matt. :)

[mental4astro]

Thank you Matt for the article. I was thinking just the other day that I didn't know anything about Armstrong's life after NASA, other than his shunning the public lime light.

What an interesting portait.

Ta for that.

[matt]

No worries, everyone.

One of the funny (and somewhat irksome) things we often hear about Neil is how much of a 'recluse' he is.

The truth is...he has never hidden from the world. He continued in public life for many years after the Moon landing. He was an occasional speaker on the circuit when there was something he felt worth saying or supporting, and actively participated in a number of other ventures.

I admire his reluctance to be solely defined or trade on that one, albeit enormos, moment for the rest of his life....from the age of 38.

It's just a different mind-set, I guess. For him, I suspect it was all about getting a job done and serving his country in an ambitious and proud pursuit. He has never denied the enormity of the job or its historic significance. He has often spoken of the excitement and privilege he felt.

He has just prefered to see it from a different perspective. A broader perspective...free of the trappings of human-defined 'fame' and celebrity. That's not what a lot of men of his generation were all about. Not the guys with the 'right stuff'.

[erick]

"It takes all types..... etc." We should just be comfortable with that. Individuals make their own decisions and live with them. Most of the time it's none of our business what they choose to do.