Apollo 11 Moon Landing Delivered 40 Years Of Spin-Off Tech

The heroes of America's moon landing last night called for the US to launch a mission to Mars and beyond, in a rare joint appearance aimed at reigniting interest in costly and risky manned space flight.

Now in their late 70s, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins and John Glenn recounted their exploits, describing the massive US effort to beat the Soviet Union in the space race that culminated 40 years ago today, when Armstrong and Aldrin stepped out of the Eagle moon lander on to the lunar surface.

Several of the men called on Barack Obama to lead the country on a second mission, this time to Mars. But the star of the evening, Armstrong, refused to be drawn into the debate, instead describing the Apollo mission that granted him worldwide fame as a "diversion" primarily useful as a peaceful outlet for cold war competition between the US and the Soviet Union.

"It did allow both sides to take the high road with the objectives of science and learning and exploration," said Armstrong, the first human on the moon. But he noted the parallel development of the space programme and the intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of mass destruction.

Last night's lectures at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum were the latest in a series of speaking engagements and events intended to build excitement about space exploration among a population that was largely not born at Nasa's peak. The evening was sponsored by Boeing, the aerospace giant that would stand to win billion-dollar contracts in a newly energised space effort.

Humans last set foot on the moon 37 years ago, and the American public has grown ambivalent about the space programme. Last week's launch of the space shuttle Endeavour – a craft slated for retirement next year – provoked a national shrug. Nasa hopes to return humans to the moon by 2020 and to Mars by mid-century, but the president has shown little interest in the massive investment of tax dollars needed to explore the solar system.

In brief remarks, the astronauts and the Nasa mission control founder, Christopher Kraft, noted the technological advancement, spirit of national unity and position of world leadership the Apollo programme brought America.

"Nasa is the best return on investment that this country has ever seen," Kraft said. "What we need is new technology; we have not had that since Apollo … I say to Mr Obama: Let's get on with it. Let's invest in the future."

Aldrin urged the country to commit to a colony on Mars, using an international lunar outpost as a stepping stone.

"It was a great personal honour to walk on the moon, but as Neil once observed, there are still places to go beyond belief," Aldrin said. "Isn't it time to continue our journey outward, past the moon?"

Collins warned that a second effort to explore the moon would be a technological "briar patch" that would distract the nation from reaching Mars.

The astronauts noted that the nation was spurred to the Apollo programme – which cost more than $1tr in 2009 dollars — by the Soviet launch in 1957 of the Sputnik satellite and the launch soon after of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into orbit.

"This was not some idle objective," said Glenn, who in 1962 became the first American to orbit the Earth, nor a "scientific stunt".

America's current arch-enemy, al-Qaida, is not a competitor in the space race, and Indian, Chinese and European ambitions have not provoked the fear of a militarised space that the Soviets did.

If nothing else, the evening reminded America how distant the glory days of the space programme lie. Aldrin, Armstrong and Collins were reminiscent of one's granddad – white-haired men who told exciting stories of long-ago feats of bravery and teamwork. In introductory remarks in the museum lobby, the astronauts noted that they had piloted several of the retired jets and spacecraft on display, as if acknowledging their fellow museum pieces.

Pointing to the glass-encased Apollo 11 command module, Kraft joked about his personal role in preparing it for flight four decades ago.

"First thing in the morning Neil made me polish it. Last thing at night, I polished it," he said. "I'm not sure it's getting that kind of care."