From the Earth to the Moon to the Earth

45 years ago today -- and for the first time in human history -- human beings set foot upon another world. It was one of the proudest moments in America's history, arguably the proudest. Despite being initially motivated by small-minded territoriality, it ironically brought our planet together, with people all over the world watching breathlessly as Neil Armstrong placed his boot on the desolate surface of the Moon. Every year on this anniversary I reflect a bit on what happened then, how it af...