Courage in the Face of Fear

Everyone remembers the footprint, the flag, the grainy footage of man touching

another world. But what they don't show you is the letter. Before Neil Armstrong

ever left Earth, before the rocket ignited, before the world watched history

unfold, President Nixon had a speech prepared. It wasn't for celebration. It was for failure.

The title read "In Event of Moon Disaster" and it began with these words, fate has ordained

that the men who went to the Moon to explore in peace will stay on the Moon to rest in

peace. Armstrong knew this speech existed. He read it. He understood that

stepping onto that lunar surface meant there was a very real chance he'd never come home.