--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was an eight-year-old kid when I…" description: "\"I was an eight-year-old kid when I watched the first Apollo Moon Landing way back in 1969 and there was something about that moment that really stuck i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce3/leroy-chiao-7059_airplane_i-was-an-eight-year-old-kid-when-i-watch_2624291.jpg" --- # I was an eight-year-old kid when I watched the first… ![“I was an eight-year-old kid when I watched the first Apollo Moon Landing way back in 1969 and there was something about that moment that really stuck in my head. I'd always been interested in space and flying and I was building model rockets and model airplanes, but something about that moment, I…” quote by Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce3/leroy-chiao-7059_airplane_i-was-an-eight-year-old-kid-when-i-watch_2624291.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce3/leroy-chiao-7059_airplane_i-was-an-eight-year-old-kid-when-i-watch_2624291.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce3/leroy-chiao-7059_airplane_i-was-an-eight-year-old-kid-when-i-watch_2624291.jpg) > “I was an eight-year-old kid when I watched the first Apollo Moon Landing way back in 1969 and there was something about that moment that really stuck in my head. I'd always been interested in space and flying and I was building model rockets and model airplanes, but something about that moment, I can remember like it was yesterday watching the Apollo Lunar Lander approach the surface of the Moon and then later watching Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin take the first steps on the Moon, and something that day started the dream for me that, hey, I want to be like those guys.” [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Witnessing the Moon landing ignited a lifelong dream of space exploration, shaping his career aspirations. **In simple terms:** The Moon landing inspired his space ambitions. Key Takeaway Let early inspirations guide career goals. Themes inspiration space dreams career history Mood inspirational nostalgic Type biographical motivational When to use this quote - education - STEM careers - public speaking - space advocacy Key Concepts visionary moments role models personal motivation Questions to Reflect On - What moment sparked your passion? - How can you nurture that inspiration today? A Different Perspective Early experiences can steer lifelong paths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [First step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-step/) [First steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-steps/) [Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Moon landing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon-landing/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) ## Related quotes > [I was eight years old when I saw the Apollo moon landing in 1969. I was riveted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-was-eight-years-old-when-i-saw-the-apollo-moon-landing-in-1969-i/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, the three astronauts from Apollo 11 visited the White House. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/to-commemorate-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-moon-landing-the-three/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Another hundred years may pass before we understand the true significance of Apollo. Lunar exploration was not the equivalent of an American pyramid, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/another-hundred-years-may-pass-before-we-understand-the-true/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [I think I was very interested in the space program as a kid, watching the first Apollo missions to the moon, and it's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kelly/i-think-i-was-very-interested-in-the-space-program-as-a-kid-watching/) [Mark Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kelly/) > [I watched 'Apollo 13,' and it, like, absolutely freaked me out. I was terrified. I didn't want to go to space because I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-mikulak/i-watched-apollo-13-and-it-like-absolutely-freaked-me-out-i-was/) [Sam Mikulak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-mikulak/) > [“Uh-oh," Will muttered. "This is going to be ... interesting." It turned out the creative genius behind the movie was Will's dad - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/uh-oh-will-muttered-this-is-going-to-be-interesting-it-turned-out-the/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I remember watching 'Apollo' with my other grandma - I have so many grandmas - and seeing these young girls sing... I knew in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/i-remember-watching-apollo-with-my-other-grandma-i-have-so-many/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) > [I'm 9, 10, and I'm watching the Apollo astronauts go to the moon. We're sitting on the floor of a school, and they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-payette/i-m-9-10-and-i-m-watching-the-apollo-astronauts-go-to-the-moon-we-re/) [Julie Payette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-payette/) > [Millions of people were inspired by the Apollo Program. I was five years old when I watched Apollo 11 unfold on television, and without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/millions-of-people-were-inspired-by-the-apollo-program-i-was-five/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [Buzz Aldrin doesn't think we need to go back to the Moon - that we should go straight on to Mars. I'm more on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duke/buzz-aldrin-doesn-t-think-we-need-to-go-back-to-the-moon-that-we/) [Charles Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duke/) > [I'm probably the only one in the world you can name that's worked with Billie Holiday, Louie Armstrong, Ella, Duke, Miles, Dizzy, Ray Charles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-m-probably-the-only-one-in-the-world-you-can-name-that-s-worked/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [Apollo 11 was the movie premiere of moon landings, with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Neil was a bit of a mystic, but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-koppel/apollo-11-was-the-movie-premiere-of-moon-landings-with-neil-armstrong/) [Lily Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-koppel/) > ['2001' was written in an age which now lies beyond one of the great divides in human history; we are sundered from it forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/2001-was-written-in-an-age-which-now-lies-beyond-one-of-the-great/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [“The fact that reality doesn’t match what you want or expect isn’t reality’s fault. Besides, authenticity is overrated. When you were a kid playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-meyer/the-fact-that-reality-doesn-t-match-what-you-want-or-expect-isn-t/) [Scott Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-meyer/) > [On July 20th, 1969, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong took the most expensive selfie in history. As the apex of an 8-year, $130 billion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-tumlinson/on-july-20th-1969-buzz-aldrin-and-neil-armstrong-took-the-most/) [Rick Tumlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-tumlinson/) ## More by Leroy Chiao > [If you increase the number of rockets you build and you buy, then it's the scale of the economy, the price is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/if-you-increase-the-number-of-rockets-you-build-and-you-buy-then-it-s/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [I'm skeptical of claims that we've been visited by aliens from another planet or other dimension, but I don't rule it out 100 percent.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-m-skeptical-of-claims-that-we-ve-been-visited-by-aliens-from/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [On the mission I brought a flag from China, I brought the stone sculpture from Hong Kong, and I brought a scroll from Taiwan.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/on-the-mission-i-brought-a-flag-from-china-i-brought-the-stone/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [One day, people will be able to buy tickets to visit space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/one-day-people-will-be-able-to-buy-tickets-to-visit-space/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [I think it's good to have competition. 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That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/when-russians-were-having-troubles-the-space-shuttle-supported-the/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [Tinkering is something we need to know how to do in order to keep something like the space station running. I am a tinkerer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/tinkering-is-something-we-need-to-know-how-to-do-in-order-to-keep/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [We were trying to do as much science as we could because that was the main purpose of the international space station. But without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/we-were-trying-to-do-as-much-science-as-we-could-because-that-was-the/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [The space station mission was kind of the culmination of all of my experience of being a NASA Astronaut, so it had brought all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/the-space-station-mission-was-kind-of-the-culmination-of-all-of-my/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [The expense of getting into space is the rocket launch, the rocket itself. 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I'd always been interested in space and flying and I was building model rockets and model airplanes, but something about that moment, I can remember like it was yesterday watching the Apollo Lunar Lander approach the surface of the Moon and then later watching Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin take the first steps on the Moon, and something that day started the dream for me that, hey, I want to be like those guys.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leroy Chiao" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-was-an-eight-year-old-kid-when-i-watched-the-first-apollo-moon/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Airplane" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-was-an-eight-year-old-kid-when-i-watched-the-first-apollo-moon/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce3/leroy-chiao-7059_airplane_i-was-an-eight-year-old-kid-when-i-watch_2624291.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce3/leroy-chiao-7059_airplane_i-was-an-eight-year-old-kid-when-i-watch_2624291.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce3/leroy-chiao-7059_airplane_i-was-an-eight-year-old-kid-when-i-watch_2624291.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was an eight-year-old kid when I watched the first Apollo Moon Landing way back in 1969 and there was…” — Leroy Chiao", "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": "Leroy Chiao", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was an eight-year-old kid when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-was-an-eight-year-old-kid-when-i-watched-the-first-apollo-moon/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-was-an-eight-year-old-kid-when-i-watched-the-first-apollo-moon/#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 } } ] } ```