5 April 2025

On 29 July 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped out of his space module and set foot on the moon’s surface. As he did, he said, ‘That’s one small step for man, one giant step for mankind.’

Over 600 million people were watching him. I was one of them. I was fourteen at the time and I was absolutely spellbound. I couldn’t believe that a man could walk on the moon.

Exactly ten years later, I visited the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. There I saw the Command Module for myself. I also saw some moon rock – and couldn’t believe my eyes.

When I was there, I bought this photograph of the earth as seen from the moon’s surface. It was taken by Bill Anders on Apollo 8 on Christmas Eve 1968. It is now called ‘Earthrise’.

It has remained on my study wall for the past forty-six years. It offered two perspectives. Firstly, the earth is not the centre of our Universe but one planet in one solar system in a vast and unexplored cosmos.

Secondly, the earth looks more vulnerable here than anywhere else. Lots of people thought so for it gave rise to the first Earth Day the following year and the start of greater concern and care for our Blue Planet.