Houston (NBp) - It was thirty years ago this week that NASA "launched" the Apollo 11 "rocket" into "space" in a television broadcast that was seen by millions around the world.

The "moon landing" was among the most expensive broadcasts ever to air.

On July 20, 1969, nearly everyone with a TV set tuned in to see an American flag planted on extremely inhospitable terrain called "the moon". The program had gigantic viewership with a large residual income: action figures, rocket ship toys, posters, photographs and more.

The hype has not faded. Today, there are new monuments being erected and countless retrospective TV shows that pull in big advertising money. Videotapes, and now DVDs, that document the "moon landing" continue to sell well.

Since that amazing "rocket launch", countless incredible wonders have been seen on TV, but few have had the impact of that stunning "journey" to the nearest "celestial body". Even David Copperfield's vanishing Great Wall has failed to have the same lasting impact.

Many have wondered why there has not been a sequel to the "moon landing". Thus far, NASA has been unable to justify another $30 billion budget to create as impressive a TV event as the original "moon landing". Additionally, they have also been unable to come up with a suitable plot for a sequel.