The Science section of todays NY Times is entirely devoted to the mission that first landed men on the moon forty years ago on July 20, 1969. Im sure that many participants or observers here are not old enough to remember the event. But some of us old folks might like to record memories. I was at my parents house with a typically large group gathered around the TV set in the living room. Some of the grandchildren fell asleep as we waited, but we awakened them in time to see Neil Armstrong take his first steps on to the surface of the moon. We watched in fascination as the two astronauts then at first walked cautiouslyevery step an experiment--, then with more confidence. At one point one of them went bounding off away from the camera and toward the horizon and I had a sudden fear that he was going to bounce right off the moon and be lost into space.A special website has been set up on which you can follow, second by second, the progress of the moon mission from launch here until return.

Rev. Joseph A. Komonchak, professor emeritus of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America, is a retired priest of the Archdiocese of New York.

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