40TH ANNIVERSARY -- APOLLO 11

The Apollo spacecraft reached Earth parking orbit after 11 minutes. After one and a half orbits the Saturn thrusters fired and the astronauts began their journey to the Moon. This spectacular photo of the Earth was taken from 158,000 km (98,000 miles) during the Apollo 11 translunar injection on July 16. Most of Africa and parts of Europe and Asia are visible.(NASA photo ID AS11-36-5355)

July 20, 1969 -- I was 11 years old when the US astronauts landed on the moon. I recall my Dad being glued to the television, fully absorbed in the magnitude of the moment. Afterwards, my Dad ordered a photograph of the Earth taken from the lunar module. Today, I realize the historic impact of that moment.

This morning's local paper had a article about the 250 ton centrifuge at the old Warminster Naval Air Development Center. All of the lunar astronauts came here to train in the centrifuge which simulated G-forces they would experience during the take off and thrust into space. It is the largest space training centrifuge in the world. This base is about 5 minutes from my home, and a group of citizens have saved the centrifuge and the building as a museum. Ouside of centrifuge located at Warminster NADC

Astronaut John Glenn being prepared for a centrifuge run at Warminster.