Continuing Suspense

Moon shots lost some of their tension of mystery when the explorers of Apollo 11 and 12 landed on target. Man began poking around, collecting rocks and, however briefly, making himself at home. Then the harrowing descent of Apollo 13 last spring gave proof, if any was needed, of the sheer risk involved, though that adventure ended by asserting human mastery even over failing machinery.

What then remains for Astronauts Shepard, Roosa and Mitchell this week? What emotional frontier can Apollo 14 assault? However scientifically rewarding the mission might prove to be, if all goes well, it will after all follow footprints already made in the lunar dust. But the world's fascination has not disappeared with the diminution of magic.

There is the continuing suspense over course corrections and interrupted communications, the fascination with the jargon and the technology, above all the apprehension for the crew's safety. There is also a sense of wonder at three men eager to journey a quarter-million miles, not to be first or even second, but merely to carry on a great exploration. For many of the earthbound, there is also a certain feeling of envy. Edgar Mitchell mused about the deeper implications of the mission: "Man is a total being, and I refuse to say science should be divorced from religion or from humanity. It's all one big kettle of fish."

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