On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to land and walk on the Moon. Through most of human history, such a feat represented the unattainable. Yet attain it we did. Therefore, it is appropriate on the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 to reflect on what it took to get us there, what values the landing manifested, and how it can guide us in our future endeavors.

First, we should reflect on the technical challenges to get to the Moon. Would they adopt a mission design with one giant spaceship traveling to the Moon, landing, and returning back to Earth? Or would they (as they did) use a three-stage rocket, a separate command module, and a lunar module for the actual landing?