Transcript:

Apollo 11 The Fragile EarthWe're celebrating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, when we landed on the moon. I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet. NASA Ground Control: Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Zero. All engine run. LIft off! We have a lift off! Thirty-two minutes past the hour. Liftoff on Apollo 11. Years ago, I had the good fortune to interview astronaut Michael Collins, who was the command module pilot on Apollo 11 Collins: On the flight of Apollo 11 in July of 1969, Neal Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon while I circled overhead. NASA Ground Control: Loud and clear now, Mike, and we understand that you are docked. Can you describe what you're looking at, over? Collins: It's hard to see life on earth from the lunar distance, which is roughly a quarter of a million miles. But you do see a beautiful object. One very small - about the size of your thumbnail if you hold your arm out at length in front of you. It's primarily a blue and a white earth. It's predominantly the white of the clouds and the blue of the ocean that you see. And it gleams; it glistens in the sunlight. It is a very beautiful small little globe, and above all it conveys to you a feeling of fragility. I used to think that the earth was a rugged place. Having seen it from a great distance, I don't have that feeling of ruggedness or strength. I have the feeling it's very small; it's interconnected. And I have the feeling that we go about our business without really caring for the fragility of the earth. We'll hear more of my interview with astronaut Michael Collins in future programs. I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.