mr. aldrin forgot to take pictures of mr. armstrong on the moon. the only pictures he took of him were these big panoramas where armstrong is this little tiny figure. this is one of the few pictures of armstrong on the moon. it's taken from a data camera that's on the top of the lunar module. and here's a beautiful picture of the flag at the foot of eagle. and here is mr. aldrin walking away with one of his scientific experts. and here he is setting it up. this is a fantastic thing that they had devised which is an array of reflectors and when a laser is pointed from the earth and it bounces back off these reflectors it tells you exactly how far away the moon is from the earth. and it was made with this fantastic robot that would deploy. and here is the earth rising over eagle. so that night after finishing all of their chores, they said later the worst chore was planting the flag. they didn't know what the lunar surface was going to be like and there were a number of scientists thought it would be this giant pile of dust that would swallow up anyt

mr. aldrin aldrin. of it what did you think? >> i just came in from dayton where -- we were at the national aviation hall of fame when i first heard the news. all of us were very saddened for such a trusted voice to have passed on. we knew he was ill for a while. of course as you mentioned, it took us three and a half days to get back. we were on the aircraft carrier in quarantine when they showed us some film of the reactions back on here when we landed on the moon. and the people cheering and, of course interspersed with that was the broadcast with walter and wally shera who passed away also. that was also a very good view with walter. and the glasses on his forehead mopping his brow and i think that's one of the first times he was really speechless. as we saw this it was just a striking -- i tapped neil on the shoulder and said look at all that cheering. we missed the whole thing. of course what i meant was as the rest of the world got to see the transmissions and the interpretations for those 18 hou

mr. aldrin have a point? should we forget the moon and focus on mars?is the likelihood of seeing a mission to mars in the near future? >> the real way to frame it is that mars should be the long-term goal we want to achieve. it is a long reachout and presents all sorts of technological challenges but it's not to say it can't be done. the way i would put it is that if we make mars the long-term goal what we end up with is a lot of technological development that has to happen between now and then. that would probably include returning to the moon just so we can build up our chops for doing the space exploration out on other planets. it was 40 years ago that we last had people on the moon, so what's the possibility that this is going to happen? well, a lot depends on what the national commissions that advised the president tell him we should set as a goal. then from there it's a question of whether or not the funding is provided to make that happen. >> today astronauts from other apollo missions referred to the international space station as a white elepha

mr. aldrin, it's an honor to talk to you.in 1969 i was a 12-year-old in alabama, and i remember hearing the rockets from the nasa space center. and i remember watching walter cronkite and that landing on the moon. and it did start me as a 12-year-old to be a space engineer. and 12 years later i was an engineer for the rockwell company and i had a great career in the space industry, and i worked on space missions. it was a tremendous experience of hearing the stories of the nation, when people come together they can achieve the impossible. my question to you is can we move this anniversary to inspire our kids k-12 that there are hopes they can achieve and we can get them there. guest: that's why i have written two children's books and why i did rap music with snoop dog, and why i am twittering at the real buzz, to try to reach a new generation, a y-generation, to help them on understand that not just a great generation came along that they don't know about. and to save the world from tierance, but another generation came along

mr. aldrin, it's an honor to talk to you. 1969 i was a 12-year-old in alabama, and i remember hearing the rockets from the nasa space center. and i remember watching walter cronkite and that landing on the moon. and it did start me as a 12-year-old to be a space engineer. and 12 years later i was an engineer for the rockwell company and i had a great career in the space industry, and i worked on space missions. it was a tremendous experience of hearing the stories of the nation, when people come together they can achieve the impossible. my question to you is can we move this anniversary to inspire our kids k-12 that there are hopes they can achieve and we can get them there. guest: that's why i have written two children's books and why i did rap music with snoop dog, and why i am twittering at the real buzz, to try to reach a new generation, a y-generation, to help them on understand that not just a great generation came along that they don't know about. and to save the world from tierance, but another generation came along a

mr. buzz aldrin said, and i quote, inspiration has to be the greatest benefit, end of quote. so we must have our students inspired again and nasa is a great conduit for that, to inspire generations to continue doing better and opening up avenues of investment in work. so i am definitely for that. >> mohammed, thank you for your phone call. there is still something to be said for enlarging our horizons. one of our i-reporters gave his views. >> the space program may cost a lot of money but what it also does is it provides thousands and thousands of jobs for this country and for countries around the world helping to stimulate the economy. that's one aspect we fail to talk about in talking about space exploration. it's the impact it has on the technology sector, on the impact it has on aerospace, the impact on the overall economy. jobs right now are very scarce as we know and i think investing in space exploration and that technology can only help stimulate our very poor economy right now. >> our i-reporter, marc. connie sent us an e-mail from kentucky and this is what she wrote

mr. president. >> thank you. >> reporter: and when we come back, apollo1 1b@ astronaut buz aldrin remembers walter cronkite. >> hello, everyone. here we are again in studio a -- our cbs television control point for the westinghouse coverage, rais time tof dc octi alntonve onion.ocio (male announcer) if you've had a heart attack caused by a completely blocked artery, another heart attack could be lurking, waiting to strike. a heart attack caused by a clot, one that could be fatal. but plavix helps save lives. plavix, taken with other heart medicines goes beyond what other heart medicines do alone to provide greater protection against heart attack or stroke and even death by helping to keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots. ask your doctor about plavix, protection that helps save lives. (female announcer) if you have stomach ulcer or other condition that causes bleeding, you should not use plavix. when taking plavix alone or with some other medicines including aspirin, the risk of bleeding may increase so tell your doctor before planning surgery. and always talk to your doctor before taki

mr. lautenberg: madam president, i commend the secretary from texas for her commemoration of this spectacular day when americans went to the moon this time. and one of them was a fellow named buzz aldrin who lived in the town of montclair, new jersey, a town that i inhabited. mrs. hutchison: i thank the senator from new jersey because, of course, buzz aldrin is going to be at that commemoration tomorrow and has been one of the leaders in trying make sure that america does not flag in its enthusiasm and commitment to space exploration and all that it will bring us. so i thank you for remembering buzz aldrin as well, because he was a great astronaut and one of the leaders still today for that very important mission. mr. lautenberg: it looked, i say to the senator from texas -- it looked like it was a fairly simple mission. but now, as we study it more thoroughly and realize what conditions were like there and the very soil, dust that existed was threatening to humanity, to the person, to the machinery, to the ship that took them there, to the spaceship that took them there. it was a remarkable thing, and i join the distinguished senator from texas in this tribute. mrs. hutchison: madam

mr. obama, let's get on with it. let's invest in the future. >> reporter: buzz aldrin really laid out his journey or the journey he thinks american should follow the mars. he even came up with a time line. he said 1903, that is when the wright brothers took flight. he said 66 years from there is when he landed on the moon. he believes 66 years later, 2035 is when americans should land on mars. he thinks that we can do it, we'll see. live,. >> and those guys could be on the rocket to mars. >> reporter: and it was really wonderful to meet them as well. >> yes, true space heros. >> yes, fox 5 news will be there tomorrow for the extensive coverage of the 40th anniversary of the apollo mission all day on fox 35 news and you can also follow the celebrations on myfoxdc.com. >>> and we're not done just yet, this week, stronauts on the space shuttle endeavour finished the last of the space walks at the international space station. two astronauts put in the final piece of a japanese lab to be installed on the station. the astronauts spent most of the day moving a cargo carrier from the shuttle to the station. another space walk is

mr. obama, let's get on with it. let's invest in the future. >>> nasa plans to return to the noon by 00 but buzz aldrin thinks man should reach mars by 2031. >> he says a lunar program will help them reach that goal. >>> fox 5 has today's milestone covered for you. we'll have extensive coverage of the 40th anniversary of the apollo 11 mission throughout the day. you can follow the celebration on the web site also at myfoxdc.com. >>> a spectacular weekend for golf fans as tom watson made a run and he had it in his grasp but then it slipped away. >> we'll hear from dave ross. he had to watch awe ball game a beautiful ballpark and eat some gourmet meals. poor dave! coming up next here on fox 5. w. washed out? not pretty... so keep your clothes looking like new! (announcer) don't take a chance. trust woolite. new spray n' wash bright and white is your safe bleach alternative. it does the job... stop-- don't do that! without the accints. add it with your detergent to help whiten and keep colors bright while the resolve power gets rid of stains. trust spray n' wash bright and white. if we don't act, medical bills will wipe ou

he actually interviewed buzz aldrin 30 years ago today, as well. first of all, mr. al drin, thanks very much for coming in. we're only minutes away from that 40th anniversary not only to the minute but to the second. that what's going through your mind right now? >> well, i appreciate you getting right to the second of 40 years later, but i've been reliving this for 40 years and more intently this particular 40th anniversary because i think it provides a just marvelous opportunity for not only reliving this for the people who were not there, those who were there can reshare again, and we can entirely rejuvenate people and consider what a momentous decision that was and how satisfied, how joyous the world was, especially our country, in successfully carrying that out. we can do that again. >> and i want to take about that. i want to look ahead. but in these minutes, precisely before you and neil armstrong walked on the moon, tell us what you were thinking, what you were feeling exactly at this minute 40 years ago just before you touched down with the eagle on the sur

mr. president. >> the first tourists on the moon. fromdehe ptirriscion it dsrisoune s likeom place ewe might want to go after all. aldrin magnificent desolation. armstrong "stark beauty all its own." >> for thousands of years now it's been man's dream to walk on the moon. right now after seeing it happen, knowing that it happened, it still seems like a dream and it is, i guess, a dream come true. >> mason: their lunar explorations completed astronauts armstrong and aldrin were ready for potentially the most hazardous part of their voyage, the ascent from the moon's surface back to the orbiting columbia space craft. >> man has landed on the moon. today the second half of the mission begins. return him safely. this engine, the lunar module has been fired. it's a 3500-pound thrust engine to get this first test and it's got to work today. if armstrong and aldrin are to return home safely. >> beautiful. >> the engines are firing. they're on the way. >> 1,000 feet high. 80 feet per second vertical rise. >> oh, boy. hot diggity dog. yes, sir. >> there's not much that can go wrong now on the way home. splashdown is the next big

aldrin and another key apollo player want nasa to keep moving all the way to mars. >> it may sound like a distant distinction beyond our reach but that's what some call apollo. >> mr. obama, let's get on with it. let's invest in the future. shepard: so while most of us are celebrating the past, the people who actually lived it are looking forward. brian wilson live at the newsroom -- newseum. you probably remember where you were on this day probably some 40 years ago. over at the air and space museum today as they often do. visitors gathered around the lunar lander to snap pictures and talk about where they were that day and what they remember about the initial moon landing. and then they were also neither columbia capsule where michael collins spent his time during this whole thing. nasa has released some sort of enhanced pictures from that time. this is film that they have run through the computers that shows the moon walk. alleged doctrine and armstrong going through the paces. geargt rocks, planting the flag and conducting experiences for two and one half hours before they climbed back into the lunar module. exploded went back into space and linked up with the

mr. obama, let's get on with it. let's invest in the future. [applause] >> thank you. our second speaker this evening will be apollo 11 lunar module pilot dr. buzz aldrin. a west point graduate, he joined the air force in 1961 flew combat missions in korea and are his doctorate in astronautics from mit in 1963. he dedicated his dissertation to the crew members of this country's present and future manned space program. it's only i -- if only i could join them in this exciting endeavor. he soon did. becoming a nasa astronaut later in the year. his success in filling jemmied 12th and as a lunar module pilot for apollo 11 cemented his place in history. with a long career in public life, dr. aldrin continues to lend his experience and energy to books, conferences, films, and even this year, recording and music video. it is my pleasure to welcome dr. buzz aldrin. >> somebody was going to put a slide up there that i was going to dazzle you with. it will be on my website. i know that it is a little daunting to view progressive ways into the future. i volunteered to talk about the future. that is not the only thing i will talk about. but that is what i always h

there will be the next armstrong, collins, and aldrin, and we went to make sure that nasa is there for them when they want to take their dream. >> thank you, mr president. >> thank you very much. thank you so much. all right, thank you, everybody. . >> a couple of live events. the senate judiciary committee will meet to talk about the nomination of sonia sotomayor. also at 10:00 on c-span3, ben bernanke will testify before the house financial services committee. >> house c-span funded? >> donations? >> there is some kind of sponsorship. >> this is the root philanthropy. >> the government? >> house c-span funded? 30 years ago, the cable companies created c-span has a public service. no government mandate, no government money. >> the nation's governors ended at their annual meeting with a forum on the energy and the economy. they met with business leaders to talk about climate change. we begin with the president and the ceo of the u.s. chamber of commerce institute for 21st century energy. this is one hour and a half. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2009] >> great. >> yo

next armstrong, collins and aldrin, and we want to make sure that nasa is going to be there for them when they want to take their journey. thank you so much. >> thank you, mr thank you, sir. thank you, everybody. >> the president of the united states with the first astronauts to walk on the moon together there at the white house. it's been 40 years on this day since the apollo 11 crew made history. that does it for us. right after the break, rick sanchez will take it from here.

mr. obama, let's get on with it! let's invest in the future! >> our second speaker this evening will be apollo 11 lunar pilot dr. buzz aldrinwest point graduate, he joined the air force in 1951. he flew combat missions in korea and then earned his doctorate from m.i.t. he dedicate the his dissertation to the crew members of this country's present and future manned space program. if only i could join them in their exciting endeavors. he soon did. becoming a nasa astronaut later that same year. his successes flying the lunar module pilot for apollo 11, cemented his place in history. with the long career and public life, dr. aldrin continues to be an active figure, lending his experience and energy to books, conferences, documentary films, and even this year recording a music video with rapper snoop dog. it is my pleasure to welcome dr. buzz aldrin. >> somebody was going to put a slide up there that i was going to dazzle you with. it will be on www.buzzaldrin.com. and i know that it's a little daunting to view progressive ways into the future. i volunteered to talk about the future. that's not the only thing i'm going to talk

mr. president, i rise today on the 40th anniversary of the apollo 11 moon landing, to highlight the importance of scientific research and development to america's economic recovery. 40 years ago astronauts neil armstrong and buzz aldrin took the first human steps on the moon. it was, needless to say, an historic moment for the united states and the world. eight years prior, president john f. kennedy declared before a joint session of congress that the united states -- quote -- "should commit itself to achieving the goal before the decade is out of landing a man on the moon" -- unquote. armstrong's famous words, "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" marked the fulfillment of the president kennedy's goal. that momentous step also signaled the coronation of the united states as the world leader in the sciences. a distinction we held for the rest of the 20th century but which is now in jeopardy. make no mistake, the dawn of renewed american powerhouse economy will not come with the same determination that propelled america's journey to the moon. the key to america's success in the global economy will be the research, innovation, and hard work of our nation's scientists and engineers. americans at the time