Back when America was pursuing the dream of placing a man on the moon, research and development was in full bloom. Engineers and program managers all over the country were continually reaching that next technological milestone. Radio communications, telemetry, life support, and computers were produced, tested, improved, and produced once again. A continuous cycle of learning that had the American public, and the world, on the edge of their seats. Kids everywhere dreamed of being an astronaut someday. Television glorified this space age dream. “Lost In Space”. “Star Trek”. “The Jetsons”? On July 20, 1969, my parents had me and my brother sitting in front of our state of our art twelve inch black and white television to watch Neil Armstrong step on the moon for the very first time.

While wandering around the Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport, I discovered the device that moved more than six million pounds of metal, fuel, and human being from sea level to the edge of outer space. The F-1 rocket engine in clusters of five had just one job, which it did well for about three minutes before falling into the sea. My imagination soared as I looked into the twelve foot bell of this powerful monster, now just a relic of American ingenuity, teamwork, and perseverance.

I long for those days to return. What heroes we were. What shall become of us now?

Photographed with a Nikkormat FTn on Kodak Plus-X film processed in Acufine. The lens was an f/1.4 50mm Auto-Nikkor. I rather enjoy the idea of history photographing history.

Tags: monochrome, filmphotography, machinery, history, Plus-X, Nikkormat FTn, industrial