One Small Step

Fate singled out Neil Armstrong. A bright, modest, American Farm Boy became the first man on the moon and 'Neil Armstrong - First Man on the Moon' (BBC2) captured much of the life and times of this 'Hero for Human Kind' (yes, 'thetvreviewguy' would put it that high; Armstrong never claimed to be a 'USA Jock' - for him, it was about the mission). Interviewing family and friends, we saw that Armstrong was distinctly uncomfortable with his fame; the ice-cool fighter pilot who accidentally became the World's most famous man was incredibly ill at ease with nearly all of the hoopla associated with being the planet's most famous 'Star Man'. Space travel has stalled since the early 1970s; no manned mission to Mars, no permanent base on the Moon, no (though planned) mass space tourism. This programme was a timely reminder of the massive NASA team effort to land two men on the nearest celestial body and return them to Earth. Post landing, Armstrong was variously a lecturer, farmer, car sales ambassador but most of all, he tried to return to being that private citizen he once was before the Apollo programme. In this day of instant celebrity, it was gratifying to see the modesty and grace with which Armstrong accepted his fame and also moving...he wasn't able to lose his fame. A brilliant clip showed Neil Armstrong at a 'Star Trek' Convention. Life and 'Art' paying tribute to each other in perfect harmony. He had a wonderful life