/oss/taxonomy/term/5553/all en /oss/article/technology-history/armstrong-bezos <p>On that July 20, back in 1969, streets were almost empty you could have launched a <i>huo chien</i> down most streets in America without hitting a single person. That’s because almost everyone was huddled around a television set waiting for Neil Armstrong to take his small step for man and a giant leap for mankind. So what is a <i>huo chien</i>? A Chinese “fire arrow” that was the prototype for every rocket that has ever flown, including the giant 363 foot tall Saturn 5 that propelled Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin on their epic journey to the moon.</p> Wed, 21 Jul 2021 16:01:01 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8789 at /oss