Transcripts For CSPAN3 Apollos Political Foreign Policy Imp

Program legacy and the impact on todays politics, diplomacy, foreign policy, and space initiatives. Air andian National Space museum, the state department, and the George Washington University Space policy institute cohosted this event. Welcome. To seeruly a thrill space diplomacy draw such a wonderful crowd. Thank you so much for joining us this evening. Im a historian of science and technology and a curator at the Smithsonian National air and base museum for the apollo spacecraft collection. 50 years ago this week, the answered a call to land humans on the moon within a decade in return them safely back to earth. Percentage of the population followed the flight than any previous events in human history. After their flight, the astronauts toward over 20 countries. President nixon proclaimed them the best possible ambassadors america could have on this earth. Today, we are looking back and asking what was the political and Foreign Relations significance of the apollo program, and what is legacy . We are also going to look how theyquestioning could inform Foreign Relations today. Very shortly, i will be giving you some Historical Context. Will be followed by a conversation between me and Major General Michael Collins. Then we will have a larger Panel Discussion that looks at apollo and also how it can inform the future of space diplomacy. First, i would like to say, think for coming to recognize the special guests we have here today. The Collins Family and friends, thank you for joining us. Now like to interviews you to George Washington University President thomas leblanc. Good evening, everyone, and thank you for your introduction. Of course, for your significant contributions and ongoing commitment to space a story. To welcome you all to the George Washington university listener auditorium and to join you for this event, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the apollo 11 moon landing. I would especially like to thank our cosponsors, the Smithsonian National air and space museum, and the u. S. State department and this evenings distinguished panelists, Major General collins for your participation. It is an honor for us to hear from you this evening. I would also like to recognizeg logsdon at our Elliott School of International Affairs spaceunder of the gw policy institute. Research ands integration into a robust, Academic Program is one of our universitys most significant contributions to the space field. A world leader in research, graduate study, and discussion related to issues of science, technology, and public policy, the institute has developed generations of students, scholars and professionals engaged in space related work in government industry and academia. The interdisciplinary students and faculty bring deep experience in space policy, law, economics, and history. There are internationally known and respected their expertise in space policy, history, law and routinely and they consult with organizations and our own government. Partnerships and the contributions we can make together. Understanding of history, providing research and expertise on current element, and continuing to prepare future leaders who can help advance our efforts in space well into the future. Please enjoy this evenings discussion. Thank you. [applause] next, under secretary for economic, energy, and environment, from the. From the u. S. State department. [applause] it is a great honor and privilege for us to be here representing not only the United States, but the men of peace of all nations, with interests, curiosity, and a vision for the future. Words of thee few late Neil Armstrong told the president of the United States as he walked on the moon 50 years ago. Celebrate this golden anniversary of apollo 11, i in thestand here today same building, and you will collins, with michael one of the men of apollo 11. He is an inspiration to us all. Of fact, he was an assistant secretary at the state department and it is great to know we have that neverending bond, thats neverending connection that you see with the dedicated team of great diplomatic corps at the state department. I also have something in common with Neil Armstrong. We are both ohio boys, and we went off to purdue to study engineering. I didnt become an astronaut or play one on tv. That space is you personal for me. Ever since i was that 12yearold boy sitting in the living room with my mom and my dad with our one tv, looking at those black and white, snowy images and watching Neil Armstrong, one small step for in, one giant for mankind, developed a love affair with space. Ipad3 really great points of personal connection. The first was my roommate at purdue. Roommates, he ended up going in the shell four times. I will never forget. You come in late at night, maybe i was at a party, he was sitting down at the drawing board. We had just switched over from calculators. And i say, why are you studying so hard . And he said, i want to be an astronaut. And i said astronauts are military, you just cant. And he said if you dream hard enough and you work hard enough, you can make it come true. Dedication, his discipline, his drive, his intellect and his highend ideals. To me, he is symbolic of the men and women in the Aerospace Industry that answered that call and they are the best of the best. After he got done from one of his missions, i said, what was it like in space . And he says i never wanted to come down. Said that any astronaut who tells you they dont flop and outers race is a liar. Up in outer space is a liar. Connection,nt of the honor of being the chairman of the board of trustees at purdue. Armstronged neil several times. You get to be able to asking questions and those kinds of things. Such a great hero for all of us. , hey, youed to say are a hero, he would say, i am, white sox, will be, pocket protector, nerdy engineer. I remember sitting at dinner with him and the highest award at purdue is the Neil Armstrong of work. And we were honoring Sully Sullenberger with. So, he gets up on stage, and he goes, he looks down at the table we have twosully, awards in common. One is obviously the Neil Armstrong award. And, he goes, the second is the people who land in strange places. That is just a little bit of him. But i think my greatest point of personal connection and pride is that my oldest son is a rocket scientist. Design spacecraft engineer at the jet Propulsion Laboratory at nasa. He has designed a robot arm for mars 2020. I will never forget going down, the first time i went to go see him, hes so excited. He goes dad, these are the smartest people in the world. And i said thats awesome. How many levels visit to professional track . If you get a sense i got a little space and the, you guessed space envy, you guessed right. I bought a ticket on Virgin Galactic is i want to go to every space. I dont know if the guys from the state department are going to let them partake in space tourism, but someday, im going to do it. I cant wait. Spaceso proud to say that is such a great priority for our president and he is reinvigorated with Vice President pence, who is chairman of the National Space council. And we have empowered private partners, unleash americas space industry like never before. And it is now the policy of the united late of america to go back to the moon within five mars ind from there, to beyond. Just two weeks ago at the state department, along with commerce, we hosted the first Space Enterprise summit. Leaders from all around the world, private industry and government. And we are hosting here in washington in october. The International Astronautical congress, which is the premier meeting of government industry and academic leaders across the space sector. Theseso, to support objectives, secretary pompeo wanted general charles golden as their u. S. Science envoy for space. Yearie has spent the past traveling around the globe. Earth base. He says flying commercial is overrated. Anyway, he has just done a great job and i thank him for all the work he has done. Finally, id like to thank our hosts, the panelists you are about to see, the astronauts that are here, and anybody involved in the space industry. Many, many times, there is a call to the country. When we look at the next 50 years, we will get to the moon again. And we will stay. And we will go to mars and beyond. Make,mall steps we will and many more giant leaps we will take. Beings whose human hopes are bound not by gravity, but only by our results, may god bless the legacy and the memory of our apollo 11 astronauts and may god continue to bless the United States of america. I thank you all. [applause] thank you for your remarks. Now, im going to share some of the Historical Context of the spacef diplomacy within flight, and the role it plays within project apollo. Im really thrilled to talk to you about this today, this is a topic ive been studying for many years. Im finishing a book on it, and i you like today is my Research Made watch. Im thrilled to give you a little bit more context. I will take you back to the spring of 1961. When kennedy became president that president , the future of human spaceflight was uncertain. ,he moan looked too ambitious the moon looked to ambitious, but it would be a difficult spring with a host of Foreign Relations challenges. First, april 12, the soviet union launched the first human into space. In 1957,tnik launched thek the world public, human flight impressed them. , the news broke that fidel castro defeated the u. S. Port invasion of the bay of pigs. Kennedys trusted advisor ted sorensen called it the worst disaster of a disaster filled period. Observed evolution in kennedys thinking after the invasion. The bay of pigs taught kennedy that military ventures were not necessarily going to succeed. World problems required another approach. Gre netwo punch of u. S. Prestige by the bay of pigs invasion that reinforced the notion that soft power had a significant and necessary role to play in grand strategy at that moment. President kennedy asked his Vice President Lyndon Johnson that he wanted an accelerated review of the status of the u. S. Space program followed shortly by request to find a Space Program which promised dramatic results in which we could win. The program would be project apollo. A few weeks later in response johnson responded to kennedy with these words. I will read them because i think they are revealing. Other nations, regardless of their application of our idealistic appreciation of our idealistic values, will tend to align themselves with the country they believe will be the world leader and dramatic accomplishments in space are being identified as a major indicator of world leadership. This is a simple formula and it makes the states the stakes evident. ,ot simply a sparring match they signal leadership at a moment when the Political Landscape of the earth was shifting. New countries were being born and power would be won through political alliance. Kennedy proposed project apollo to a joint session of congress in may of 1961 and i will let him describe the need for this program in his own words. If we ought to win the battle, that is now going on space should have sputnikar to us all in 1957, the impact of this invention on the minds of men everywhere who are attempting to make a determination of which road they should take. Kennedys argument for apollo becomes clear when you read these words or hear him speak. Theimpact of spaceflight on minds of people around the world and its role within larger geopolitical alignments should motivate the country to invest in Space Exploration at this time. Project apollo was a bold undertaking. The United States had a total of 15 minutes of human spaceflight experience at that point. To require the development of new technology, new techniques, managerial practices, all sorts of things. Sending humans 240,000 miles to the moon. It would cost at one point over 4 of the federal budget. It was a remarkable investment. It also initiated an elaborate Public Diplomacy Campaign Around the world. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s that focused on spaceflight. Here are examples that you can see. A program on a grand scale. Engineers built new hardware, the u. S. Information agency and state Department Staff traded a range space themed exhibits, radio broadcast films, educational programming, pamphlets and the list goes on. Week, actuallyis on saturday, on the evening of july 20, 1969, as Neil Armstrong and buzz aldrin landed on the moon, guests gathered in the French Riviera for an elaborate gala in honor of the first Lunar Landing. Live coverage played on a dozen Television Sets in the banquet hall. Patrons danced a special dance named after the lunar module. People also danced in the streets of santee go indiana and marched spaceands films projected on outdoor screens. Hundreds of thousands more met aroundl and montreal and the world to witness the Lunar Landing with others. Venezuelas president had a u. S. Diplomat screen face film space films and designated the day after the landing a national holiday. As did many leaders around the world. On the other cited the world both geographically and politically, romanias communist leader deviated from his prepared speech to pre to praise the first Lunar Landing. As Neil Armstrong and buzz aldrin took their steps on the moon, Power Companies throughout the world logged a recordbreaking upsurge in Energy Consumption brought on by the number of televisions and radios tuned to the broadcast. More people followed the first Lunar Landing than any previous event in history. Over half the worlds population estimated to have listened to the radio Coverage Television broadcast or read about it in the newspaper. In nations such as japan, upwards of 90 of the population watched coverage of the mission. It truly capture the attention of the world at that moment. Here are examples of people following the flight. The apollo 11 crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on july 24, president nixon was there to meet them. From the aircraft carrier, he departed on what was called the moonglow tour and this gave him an opportunity to meet with leaders throughout southeast asia, as well as maine and present as well as the romanian president. To startpportunity improving relations with china and north vietnam. When he was done with the tour he asked the apollo 11 crew to travel the world as his and fasteners. I have a clip that will show what that tour was like. First i will give you a sense of their schedule because i appreciate the kind of energy it must have taken to go on this schedule. Over 20 countries in just over a month. They went to every continent. The returning astronauts are treated as heroes. Their goodwill tour takes them to 24 countries in 45 days. Through it all, astronauts stressed the achievement does not just belonged to three men on a rocket. From thes a clip smithsonian channel series apollos moonshot. So when they returned from this trip, president nixon asked them to report on their experiences and he thanked them and said his perhaps anoommate overstatement but does give you a sense of how the program was being evaluated and its Important Role that it played in u. S. Foreign relations at the time. Going to start a conversation with Major General Michael Collins. Before that i would like to welcome the assistant secretary of state for Global Public affairs. [applause] good evening. I am very pleased to be with all of you today. I have the distinct honor of officially welcoming Major General Michael Collins to the George Washington university. 50 years ago, our nation and people around the world tuned in to watch the first images of apollo 11 reaching the moon. Michael collins was on that mission, representing the very best of the United States, and humanity. As much a formulation achievement as a technological marvel, apollo 11 was a historic soft power victory for the United States. The white house, state department, nasa, u. S. Information agenc