---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Shuttle is to space flight what…"
description: "\"The Shuttle is to space flight what Lindbergh was to commercial aviation.\" — Arthur C. Clarke"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/arthur-c-clarke-640_aviation_the-shuttle-is-to-space-flight-what-lind_1405347.jpg"
---

#  The Shuttle is to space flight what Lindbergh was to…

![“The Shuttle is to space flight what Lindbergh was to commercial aviation.” quote by Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/arthur-c-clarke-640_aviation_the-shuttle-is-to-space-flight-what-lind_1405347.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/arthur-c-clarke-640_aviation_the-shuttle-is-to-space-flight-what-lind_1405347.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/arthur-c-clarke-640_aviation_the-shuttle-is-to-space-flight-what-lind_1405347.jpg)

> “The Shuttle is to space flight what Lindbergh was to commercial aviation.”

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The Shuttle represents a breakthrough in space travel comparable to Lindbergh’s impact on early aviation.

**In simple terms:** Shuttle is a space breakthrough like Lindbergh’s aviation.

Key Takeaway

Embrace new technology as a leap forward.

Themes

innovation exploration technology

Mood

optimistic proud

Type

historical inspirational

When to use this quote

- space missions
- commercial spaceflight
- inspiration
- policy advocacy

Key Concepts

Aerospace progress pioneering

Questions to Reflect On

- How does the Shuttle change our view of space?
- What limits still hinder space travel?

A Different Perspective

Not all breakthroughs are equally accessible or affordable.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aviation/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Space flight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space-flight/) [Star gazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/star-gazing/)

## Related quotes

> [In fact, commercial aviation is so safe because redundancy is mandated by regulation and built into every level, but our commercial-flying experience is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/in-fact-commercial-aviation-is-so-safe-because-redundancy-is-mandated/)

[Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/)

> [More than 60,000 jobs have been lost in the commercial aviation industry in the United States since 1999.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-dicks/more-than-60-000-jobs-have-been-lost-in-the-commercial-aviation/)

[Norm Dicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-dicks/)

> [The urge to explore has propelled evolution since the first water creatures reconnoitered the land. Like all living systems, cultures cannot remain static; they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/the-urge-to-explore-has-propelled-evolution-since-the-first-water/)

[Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/)

> [I'm coming back in... and it's the saddest moment of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-higgins-white/i-m-coming-back-in-and-it-s-the-saddest-moment-of-my-life/)

[Edward Higgins White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-higgins-white/)

> [To find anything comparable with our forthcoming ventures into space, we must go back far beyond Columbus, far beyond Odysseus-far, indeed, beyond the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/to-find-anything-comparable-with-our-forthcoming-ventures-into-space/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [If man survives for as long as the least successful of the dinosaurs-those creatures whom we often deride as nature's failures-then we may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/if-man-survives-for-as-long-as-the-least-successful-of-the-dinosaurs/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [I think in the long run the money that s been put into the space program is one of the best investments this country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/i-think-in-the-long-run-the-money-that-s-been-put-into-the-space/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [Even if we never reach the stars by our own efforts, in the millions of years that lie ahead it is almost certain that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/even-if-we-never-reach-the-stars-by-our-own-efforts-in-the-millions/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [For a long time, I'd been vaguely fascinated by the idea that Charles Lindbergh flew the Atlantic and Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/for-a-long-time-i-d-been-vaguely-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-charles/)

[Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/)

> [Who was the first person to fly across the Atlantic? Lindbergh. Who was the second? No idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/who-was-the-first-person-to-fly-across-the-atlantic-lindbergh-who-was/)

[Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/)

> [“Influential Americans such as Charles Lindbergh opposed war with the Nazis under the slogan “America First.” It”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-snyder/influential-americans-such-as-charles-lindbergh-opposed-war-with-the/)

[Timothy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-snyder/)

> [“desire to know more. I hope my novel accomplishes this, and I highly recommend the following books that I found very useful: Anne Morrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-benjamin/desire-to-know-more-i-hope-my-novel-accomplishes-this-and-i-highly/)

[Melanie Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-benjamin/)

> [As for Lindbergh, another eminent servant of science, all he proved by his gaudy flight across the Atlantic was that God takes care of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/as-for-lindbergh-another-eminent-servant-of-science-all-he-proved-by/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [After 'Lindbergh,' my publisher asked whom I wanted to write about next. I said, 'There's one idea I've been carrying in my hip pocket…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-scott-berg/after-lindbergh-my-publisher-asked-whom-i-wanted-to-write-about-next/)

[A. Scott Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-scott-berg/)

> [I remember when Lindbergh arrived in Paris, I was one of the first persons to know about his landing, because as the French people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/i-remember-when-lindbergh-arrived-in-paris-i-was-one-of-the-first/)

[Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/)

## More by Arthur C. Clarke

> [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [We cannot predict the new forces, powers, and discoveries that will be disclosed to us when we reach the other planets and set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/we-cannot-predict-the-new-forces-powers-and-discoveries-that-will-be/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [I am unable to distinguish clearly between your religious ceremonies and apparently identical behavior at the sporting and cultural functions you have transmitted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/i-am-unable-to-distinguish-clearly-between-your-religious-ceremonies/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [I don't believe in astrology; I'm a Sagittarius and we're skeptical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/i-don-t-believe-in-astrology-i-m-a-sagittarius-and-we-re-skeptical/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [You can't have it both ways. You can't have both free will and a benevolent higher power who protects you from yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/you-can-t-have-it-both-ways-you-can-t-have-both-free-will-and-a/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [Astronomy, as nothing else can do, teaches men humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/astronomy-as-nothing-else-can-do-teaches-men-humility/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [Nowhere in space will we rest our eyes upon the familiar shapes of trees and plants, or any of the animals that share our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/nowhere-in-space-will-we-rest-our-eyes-upon-the-familiar-shapes-of/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [“The universe is full of energy, but much of it is at equilibrium. At equilibrium no energy can flow, and therefore it cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/the-universe-is-full-of-energy-but-much-of-it-is-at-equilibrium-at/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [“Here the trees surrounded them with an invisible, anechoic blanket, so that every word seemed sucked into silence the moment it was uttered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/here-the-trees-surrounded-them-with-an-invisible-anechoic-blanket-so/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [“I’m a scientific expert; that means I know nothing about absolutely everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/i-m-a-scientific-expert-that-means-i-know-nothing-about-absolutely/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [There were some things that only time could cure. Evil men could be destroyed, but nothing could be done with good men who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/there-were-some-things-that-only-time-could-cure-evil-men-could-be/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [“Pure coincidence, of course, but a sensible man makes coincidences work for him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/pure-coincidence-of-course-but-a-sensible-man-makes-coincidences-work/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [They will have time enough, in those endless aeons, to attempt all things, and to gather all knowledge no Gods imagined by our minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/they-will-have-time-enough-in-those-endless-aeons-to-attempt-all/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [“One thing seems certain. Our galaxy is now in the brief springtime of its life—a springtime made glorious by such brilliant blue-white stars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/one-thing-seems-certain-our-galaxy-is-now-in-the-brief-springtime-of/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [Now I understand,” said the last man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/now-i-understand-said-the-last-man/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

[Explore all 415 Arthur C. Clarke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

## More Aviation quotes

> [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/)

[Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/)

> [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/)

[Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/)

> [I'm getting housemaid's knee kneeling here gulping beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-earhart/i-m-getting-housemaid-s-knee-kneeling-here-gulping-beauty/)

[Amelia Earhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-earhart/)

> [I am alive. Up here with the song of the engine and the air whispering on my face as the sunlight and shadows play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-coonts/i-am-alive-up-here-with-the-song-of-the-engine-and-the-air-whispering/)

[Stephen Coonts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-coonts/)

> [A thing of orchestrated hell-a terrible symphony of light and flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/a-thing-of-orchestrated-hell-a-terrible-symphony-of-light-and-flame/)

[Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/)

> [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/)

[Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/)

> [If the Wright brother were alive today Wilbur would have to fire Orville to reduce costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/if-the-wright-brother-were-alive-today-wilbur-would-have-to-fire/)

[Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/)

> [Aviators live by hours, not by days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-white-2/aviators-live-by-hours-not-by-days/)

[T. H. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-white-2/)

> [This strongly asserted but ill-defined license to kill without accountability is not an entitlement which the United States or other states can have without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-alston/this-strongly-asserted-but-ill-defined-license-to-kill-without/)

Philip Alston

> [Every flyer who ventures across oceans to distant lands is a potential explorer; in his or her breast burns the same fire that urged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-batten/every-flyer-who-ventures-across-oceans-to-distant-lands-is-a/)

Jean Batten

> [When you get to know me, I don't despair - I just get up, clean up, and start again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-arad/when-you-get-to-know-me-i-don-t-despair-i-just-get-up-clean-up-and/)

[Avi Arad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-arad/)

> [Be Luke Skywalker, not Darth Vader. Ultimately love is stronger than evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-burr/be-luke-skywalker-not-darth-vader-ultimately-love-is-stronger-than/)

Don Burr

> [Had I been a man I might have explored the Poles or climbed Mount Everest, but as it was my spirit found outlet in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-johnson/had-i-been-a-man-i-might-have-explored-the-poles-or-climbed-mount/)

[Amy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-johnson/)

> [As a fighter pilot I know from my own experiences how decisive surprise and luck can be for success, which in the long run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-galland/as-a-fighter-pilot-i-know-from-my-own-experiences-how-decisive/)

[Adolf Galland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-galland/)

> [The way I see it, you can either work for a living or you can fly airplanes. Me, I'd rather fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-morgan/the-way-i-see-it-you-can-either-work-for-a-living-or-you-can-fly/)

Len Morgan

[Browse all 977 Aviation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aviation/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The Shuttle is to space flight what Lindbergh was to commercial aviation.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Arthur C. Clarke"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/the-shuttle-is-to-space-flight-what-lindbergh-was-to-commercial/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Aviation"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/the-shuttle-is-to-space-flight-what-lindbergh-was-to-commercial/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/arthur-c-clarke-640_aviation_the-shuttle-is-to-space-flight-what-lind_1405347.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/arthur-c-clarke-640_aviation_the-shuttle-is-to-space-flight-what-lind_1405347.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/arthur-c-clarke-640_aviation_the-shuttle-is-to-space-flight-what-lind_1405347.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The Shuttle is to space flight what Lindbergh was to commercial aviation.” — Arthur C. Clarke",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Arthur C. Clarke",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The Shuttle is to space flight...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/the-shuttle-is-to-space-flight-what-lindbergh-was-to-commercial/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/the-shuttle-is-to-space-flight-what-lindbergh-was-to-commercial/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
