--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a former Apollo astronaut, I think…" description: "\"As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of the Apollo fr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/rusty-schweickart-16191_21st-century_as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it_50907.png" --- # As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say… ![“As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of the Apollo frontier spirit.” quote by Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/rusty-schweickart-16191_21st-century_as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it_50907.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/rusty-schweickart-16191_21st-century_as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it_50907.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/rusty-schweickart-16191_21st-century_as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it_50907.png) > “As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of the Apollo frontier spirit.” [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker links modern commercial space ventures to the pioneering ethos of the Apollo era, suggesting they continue humanity's drive to explore beyond Earth. **In simple terms:** Modern space firms echo Apollo's pioneering spirit. Key Takeaway Commercial spaceflight is the new frontier. Themes exploration innovation private sector legacy inspiration Mood optimistic proud Type statement observation When to use this quote - policy funding for for policy - - - - - - - - - - for - - \[spaceflight - space tourism Key Concepts space industry historical continuity technological progress Practical Applications - Inspiring policy support for private space initiatives - Educating the public about the continuity of space exploration Questions to Reflect On - How does private investment reshape the goals of space exploration? - What lessons from Apollo are most relevant today? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [21st century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/21st-century/) [Apollo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apollo/) [Apollo Astronaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apollo-astronaut-726593/) [Apollo Frontier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apollo-frontier-726592/) [Astronaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronaut/) [Astronaut Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronaut-think-726594/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Commercial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commercial/) [Developers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developers/) [Embody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embody/) [Former](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/former/) [Frontier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frontier/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other/) [Safe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Spacex Commercial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spacex-commercial-726591/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Version](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/version/) ## Related quotes > [It was a real honor for me to get to be the first woman astronaut. I think it's really important that young girls that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/it-was-a-real-honor-for-me-to-get-to-be-the-first-woman-astronaut-i/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [“I need to ask myself, 'What would an Apollo astronaut do?' He'd drink three whiskey sours, drive his Corvette to the launchpad, then fly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/i-need-to-ask-myself-what-would-an-apollo-astronaut-do-he-d-drink/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [The frontier in space, embodied in the space colony, is one in which the interactions between humans and their environment is so much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/the-frontier-in-space-embodied-in-the-space-colony-is-one-in-which/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [To embody a character, you have to lose all judgment about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemence-poesy/to-embody-a-character-you-have-to-lose-all-judgment-about-them/) [Clemence Poesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemence-poesy/) > [We live in a world where it's difficult to be a woman who is strong and confident, so I like to surround myself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/we-live-in-a-world-where-it-s-difficult-to-be-a-woman-who-is-strong/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [Everything that I embody is the fluidity of my own consumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-nokia/everything-that-i-embody-is-the-fluidity-of-my-own-consumption/) [Princess Nokia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-nokia/) > [For me, the most absorbing films are those that address big questions and real ideas but embody them in small examples that we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-randall/for-me-the-most-absorbing-films-are-those-that-address-big-questions/) [Lisa Randall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-randall/) > [All of the actors that have served to me as inspiration over the years have been those more associated with dramatic work who have,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adhir-kalyan/all-of-the-actors-that-have-served-to-me-as-inspiration-over-the/) [Adhir Kalyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adhir-kalyan/) > [Fiction allows you to embody certain ideas and give them an emotional reality. The characters allow you to get close viscerally to an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-michaels/fiction-allows-you-to-embody-certain-ideas-and-give-them-an-emotional/) [Anne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-michaels/) > [The 'Bird's Nest' National Stadium, which I helped to conceive, is designed to embody the Olympic spirit of 'fair competition.' It tells people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/the-bird-s-nest-national-stadium-which-i-helped-to-conceive-is/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [There's a whole language to movement and how you embody someone, and how you can use different techniques for different characters. I guess just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/there-s-a-whole-language-to-movement-and-how-you-embody-someone-and/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [I embody highs and lows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-embody-highs-and-lows/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I'm a big believer that if you want things to change you have to embody that change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-m-a-big-believer-that-if-you-want-things-to-change-you-have-to/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [Don't explain your philosophy. Embody it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/don-t-explain-your-philosophy-embody-it/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Playing Willie Loomis was really fun for me because it was something nice and different to embody. It was neat playing this drunken servant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-earle-haley/playing-willie-loomis-was-really-fun-for-me-because-it-was-something/) [Jackie Earle Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-earle-haley/) ## More by Rusty Schweickart > [We could not wipe ourselves out with a nuclear war. I do not want so sound too positive. It would be a catastrophe, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/we-could-not-wipe-ourselves-out-with-a-nuclear-war-i-do-not-want-so/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [Asteroids are deep-space bodies orbiting the Sun, not the Earth, and traveling to one would mean sending humans into solar orbit for the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/asteroids-are-deep-space-bodies-orbiting-the-sun-not-the-earth-and/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [Asteroids have hit the Earth millions of times. We can see them as shooting stars every night. When they get bigger, things get complicated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/asteroids-have-hit-the-earth-millions-of-times-we-can-see-them-as/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [In the short term, some deadly virus might be more important, but in the long run there is hardly anything more important than asteroids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/in-the-short-term-some-deadly-virus-might-be-more-important-but-in/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [So I just let go with one hand, and just sort of swung around, looked at the Earth below and the black space above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/so-i-just-let-go-with-one-hand-and-just-sort-of-swung-around-looked/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [This whole issue of limits to growth, which provides a psychological, as well as a physical, cap on potential expansion of activity and awareness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/this-whole-issue-of-limits-to-growth-which-provides-a-psychological/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [It is not enough to do a desktop exercise of a Beethoven symphony. You need to practice with an orchestra. The musicians need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/it-is-not-enough-to-do-a-desktop-exercise-of-a-beethoven-symphony-you/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [It would take an extremely large spacecraft to deflect a large asteroid that would be headed directly for the Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/it-would-take-an-extremely-large-spacecraft-to-deflect-a-large/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [As you pass from sunlight into darkness and back again every hour and a half, you become startlingly aware how artificial are thousands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/as-you-pass-from-sunlight-into-darkness-and-back-again-every-hour-and/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [No government in the world today has explicitly assigned the responsibility for planetary protection to any of its agencies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/no-government-in-the-world-today-has-explicitly-assigned-the/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [Americans who read the papers or watch Jay Leno have been aware for some time now that there is a slim but real possibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/americans-who-read-the-papers-or-watch-jay-leno-have-been-aware-for/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [All of us know today the value of communications satellites, weather satellites, resources satellites, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/all-of-us-know-today-the-value-of-communications-satellites-weather/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [I am interested in climate change and other topics too. 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Only you can shoot me down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-james/i-am-made-of-a-thousand-ghosts-only-you-can-shoot-me-down/) [Bella James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-james/) > [Like many others, I have deep misgivings about the state of education in the United States. Too many of our students fail to graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/like-many-others-i-have-deep-misgivings-about-the-state-of-education/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Undeniably, character does count for our citizens, out communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance of character in our individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/undeniably-character-does-count-for-our-citizens-out-communities-and/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [The hope of Internet anarchists was that repressive governments would have only two options: accept the Internet with its limitless possibilities of spreading information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/the-hope-of-internet-anarchists-was-that-repressive-governments-would/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Maybe we need a tax credit for the poorest Americans to buy a laptop. Now, maybe that's wrong, maybe that's expensive, maybe we can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/maybe-we-need-a-tax-credit-for-the-poorest-americans-to-buy-a-laptop/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [The 20th century has been marked by cynicism, selfishness, greed, and the desire to please, all without changing the status quo. In the 21st…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/the-20th-century-has-been-marked-by-cynicism-selfishness-greed-and/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [I firmly believe that the mission of religion in the 21st century must be to contribute concretely to the peaceful coexistence of humankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/i-firmly-believe-that-the-mission-of-religion-in-the-21st-century/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [Facebook, Twitter...Welcome to The 21st Century...Where Someone can stalk you without leaving the couch!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/facebook-twitter-welcome-to-the-21st-century-where-someone-can-stalk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Human Race is all over universe! And I am the first person to inform you. I am the most influential person of this decade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwani-kumar-ojha/human-race-is-all-over-universe-and-i-am-the-first-person-to-inform/) [Ashwani Kumar Ojha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwani-kumar-ojha/) > [Like the railroads that brought us together in the 19th century, these trails will bring us together in the 20th and 21st centuries. (at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/like-the-railroads-that-brought-us-together-in-the-19th-century-these/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [What I love about making albums in the 21st century is that so few people buy albums! 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