Here’s a bold statement: NASA seems to be quietly erasing a pivotal chapter of its history, and it’s raising eyebrows. But here’s where it gets controversial—why would an agency on the brink of returning humans to the Moon choose to airbrush its past, especially when that past is a testament to progress? Let me explain.
A year ago, I highlighted a now-missing page on NASA.gov titled “45 Years Ago: NASA Selects 35 New Astronauts” (originally at https://www.nasa.gov/history/45-years-ago-nasa-selects-35-new-astronauts/). This wasn’t just any announcement—it marked a historic shift. On January 16, 1978, NASA introduced 35 new astronauts, the largest class ever at the time. And this is the part most people miss—this group wasn’t just groundbreaking in size; it was the first to include women and minorities, shattering the all-white-male mold of the 1960s, which had been dominated by test pilots and scientists. This was a giant leap for diversity in space exploration.
Fast forward to today, as we approach NASA’s Remembrance Day and the highly anticipated Moon missions, and that page is nowhere to be found. I posted about it on January 26, 2025, and by the next day, it was gone. Thankfully, the Internet Archive preserved a snapshot (available at https://web.archive.org/web/20250125035600/https://www.nasa.gov/history/45-years-ago-nasa-selects-35-new-astronauts/), but the question remains: Why remove it now?
Here’s the controversial angle: Could this be tied to NASA’s DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) initiatives? Some might argue that scrubbing historical milestones undermines transparency, while others could see it as a strategic move to focus on current achievements. But let’s be clear—history, even the uncomfortable parts, is essential for understanding progress. Erasing it feels like a step backward, especially when NASA is poised to make history again.
As we celebrate humanity’s return to the Moon, this missing piece of history feels like a missed opportunity to honor the pioneers who broke barriers. What do you think? Is NASA right to remove this page, or does this erasure do a disservice to the legacy of those trailblazing astronauts? Let’s discuss in the comments—I’m eager to hear your take.
