Why We Went to the Moon… and Why We Stopped
Do you know that we are going to the moon again? Yes, after five decades, we are going back.
First of all, why did we go there in the first place? And why did we stop? What happened? Did we break up with the moon?
I can confidently say that everyone has a love story with the moon. I love the moon more than anything. I lie down on our terrace at night just to admire its beauty. Sometimes, I use a DSLR lens to get a closer look and observe the finer details.
And when it comes to an eclipse, don’t even ask. I can just sit and watch it for hours without caring about anything else.
When we first went to the moon, it was not just about exploration. It was a geopolitical race between two major nations, the USA and Russia.
Russia was leading at that time. They were the first to send a man into space, a woman into space, even a dog into space. The US was falling behind. When Russia launched Sputnik 1 using a ballistic missile system, it shocked the US.
That created pressure. The US had to prove itself. They had to show that they were the superior superpower.
That’s where everything escalated. Eventually, they put a man on the moon with Apollo 11. After that, there were multiple missions.
But then, around the 1970s, they stopped.
Do you know why?
Because there was no competition anymore. No pressure. They had already proved their point. The goal was achieved. There was nothing left to prove.
If we do something only to prove a point to others, it usually doesn’t last long. Even something as great as landing on the moon lost its purpose after that.
So the Apollo missions were stopped.
Now why are we going again?
Because China has announced plans to send astronauts to the moon and build a base. Once again, competition is driving the mission. Now the US also wants to return and build a presence there.
I truly love space exploration. But I believe it should be done for the benefit of humanity, not just as a competition without purpose.
If we do things only to prove something to others, we lose interest once we achieve it.
So don’t do things just for others.
Even if it’s something small, do it with love and purpose. Without that, even big achievements can feel empty.
Keep doing what you love, and give it a purpose. That’s what makes it meaningful.