THIRTY years ago today, the world was in awe at what was arguably mankind's greatest accomplishment - his leaving the planet and setting foot on the Moon. It cost America £24 billion, though it was a bill it was happy to pay in the race for Cold War supremacy and the assertion of national pride.

But, despite these motives, the achievement was still truly astronomic - so much so that all who witnessed the event even today feel a personal association with it.

What is often overlooked, however, in the long aftermath in which the manned exploration of space has dwindled because of the cost and lack of political incentive is that man's going to the Moon was not a vain adventure, but one which has enriched us all.

The spin-off benefits of the space race of 30 years ago are so tremendous - particularly the boom that was triggered in computers and global communications - that, without them, the Earth would probably come to a stop now . . . thanks to that giant step for mankind 30 years ago.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.