Let's Light This Candle

OK, yes, Alan Shephard said it about his Mercury mission, not about anything to do with Apollo. But it's still a good headline.

NASA is using the same kind of engine that lifted the Apollo ascent modules off from the moon to test its engine stands.

I'm ambivalent. On the one hand, it's pretty cool to see that old gear fire up and prove its durability and design. On the other hand, there's the knowledge that these babies have been sitting around since 1972, which means that there are people who are old enough to run for president who weren't even born the last time human beings walked on the moon. Makes me wonder if, when we call space "the final frontier," we meant it would be the final time we'd ever reach for a frontier.