For a young man interested in space, few days could rank with July 20, 1969.

But Donald Walter, who was 17 at the time, still had to go to work at a fast-food restaurant.

"I was working late and my parents were up watching TV," he said.

The newscasters were abuzz, marking the historical occasion when "The Eagle" landed on the moon at around 10:56 p.m. Eastern Time.

"I was interested in astronomy back in the sixth grade," Walter said. "I had a definite interest in looking at the beauty of the nighttime sky."

Dr. Walter, as he is now called, is an astronomer at South Carolina State University. He says that although the 40th anniversary of the moon walk is exciting, as a scientist he believes unmanned missions are sure to reveal some more exciting information about the geology of the moon.

"It will greatly enhance our understanding of the universe," Walter said.

But he also says it is inevitable that someone will once again take that next giant step on the moon. The last moon landing was in December 1972.

There have been 12 men who have walked on the moon. For Walter the question is who will take that next walk.

"I think it is part of human nature and desire to explore and push frontiers," Walter said. "Nations that continue to explore and continue to lead will stay in the forefront."

Walter said with the Chinese planning to try a moon landing and the Russians always eager to do the same, he thinks the U.S. should also see the importance of space travel for the potential technological and medical contributions.

The computers we know today, which have gone from room size to desktop, "was in large part motivated by the space program," he said.

"We have to realize that it is so big and so expensive that we can't do it like the Apollo program," Walter said. "We need international help."

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T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories at TheTandD.com.

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