We have just started the fire ..

(during this 50 years) Newton explored the meaning of gravity. Last month electric lights and telephones and automobiles and airplanes became available. Only last week did we develop penicillin and television and nuclear power, and now if America's new spacecraft succeeds in reaching Venus, we will have literally reached the stars before midnight tonight..

so said JFK in a speech to Rice university 1962. A breathtaking thought as far as I am concerned. Entire speech and video can be found here http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/ricetalk.htm